Yokozuna debutant Asashoryu's hopes for his third consecutive championship title took a major blow Monday when he was tossed to his third loss in a meeting with the lowly Kotonowaka at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Ozeki Chiyotaikai, however, got back on the winning track by burying his opponent in a hailstorm of slaps and thrusts on the ninth day of action at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
Chiyotaikai moved to 8-1 to retain the sole lead with three journeymen wrestlers at 7-2 and the new yokozuna in third place in a flock of eight grapplers on 6-3.
The 22-year-old grand champion from the land of Ghengis Khan looked nothing like a warrior as he set himself up for the kill against the big No. 3 maegashira in the day's final bout.