Indestructible grand champion Asashoryu dismantled Kakizoe on Monday to extend his remarkable winning run to 32 on the second day of action at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day's finale at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, the explosive 23-year-old from Ulan Bator showed neat footwork as he fended off a challenge from the No. 2 maegashira before calmly hauling him down to the sandy surface. Kakizoe dropped to 0-2.
Spring tourney champion Asashoryu on Sunday became the first wrestler in the Heisei era to post 31 consecutive victories, surpassing former yokozuna Takanohana's record of 30 straight wins set in 1994.
The red-hot favorite here, Asashoryu is chasing his third Emperor's Cup in a row. Should he win the tourney with a perfect record, he will be the first man to post 45 straight victories since 1949.
Meanwhile, it was a mixed day of fortunes for ozeki as Chiyotaikai and Kaio both triumphed while Musoyama was handed a shock defeat by Hokutoriki.
Chiyotaikai (2-0) was given a stern test by up-and-coming Asasekiryu (0-2) but after an exchange of fierce slaps and thrusts, the ozeki prevailed by barging the Mongolian maegashira over the straw bales.
Kokonoe stable bruiser Chiyotaikai is making a fresh bid for promotion to yokozuna but after finishing two wins behind Asashoryu in the spring basho will likely need to win the title here to reach sumo's ultimate rank.
Injury-prone Kaio rebounded from an opening day defeat to Hokutoriki by slapping down komusubi Kotomitsuki to leave both wrestlers with 1-1 records.
Musoyama (1-1) was on the back foot from the charge in his bout with top-ranked maegashira Hokutoriki.
The ozeki, who dug out nine wins to preserve his rank the last time out, escaped Hokutoriki's clutches at the edge of the ring but the maegashira came storming back to claim his second straight ozeki scalp.
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