Yokozuna Asashoryu showed no mercy against Mongolian compatriot Ama and solidified his lead on the 10th day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.
Asashoryu entertained the crowd at Fukuoka Kokusai Center with a bout rarely seen in top-level sumo, spinning around his pint-sized opponent from behind in the middle of the ring and lifting him also from behind over the straw bales to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Ama, a No. 5 maegashira, is at 5-5 after his first meeting with the grand champion.
With his 10th straight win, Asashoryu took another step closer to an unprecedented seventh straight Emperor's Cup and a sweep of all six tournaments this year. He is now two wins clear of ozeki Chiyotaikai and rank-and-filer Jumonji with five days left in the tournament.