Mongolian ozeki Hakuho rebounded from a stunning first-day loss with a disposal of countryman Kyokutenho Monday, while grand champion Asashoryu overpowered rank-and-filer Roho to stay undefeated at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Hakuho, who won the summer meet in his debut at sumo's second-highest rank in May, was sent to a shock defeat by compatriot Asasekiryu on Sunday but made no mistake in his bout the following day with Kyokutenho at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
The 21-year-old ozeki got a left-handed grip under the mawashi of Kyokutenho immediately after the faceoff and sent the No. 2 maegashira sprawling to the clay to improve to 1-1. Kyokutenho dropped to 0-2.
Hakuho is aiming to become the third wrestler in the modern sumo era to gain promotion to grand champion in just his second tournament from his debut at ozeki by winning a second consecutive title at the Nagoya meet.