Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu survived a scare to maintain his perfect record entering the final stretch of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
Sekiwake Kotooshu pushes sixth-ranked maegashira Kokkai out of the ring on the 11th day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Kyushu.
Asashoryu (11-0) stayed on track for an unprecedented seventh straight Emperor's Cup after withstanding the threat from Tamanoshima at the edge of the ring before toppling the top-ranked maegashira with a sudden burst of power at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Asashoryu uncharacteristically backpedaled straight from the face-off but did not allow Tamanoshima (6-5) to add the finishing touch while getting inside with a right-hand belt grip and twisting him down on his back.