Grand champion Asashoryu posted a hard-fought win over Miyabiyama on Monday to move into sole possession of the lead at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu, left, downs No. 5 maegashira Takamisakari on the ninth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Monday.
KYODO PHOTOIn the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Mongolian Asashoryu got a left-hand grip of Miyabiyama's belt and waltzed the sekiwake grappler out to improve to 8-1. Miyabiyama fell to 2-7 in the 15-day tourney.
The vaunted Asashoryu, who is gunning for his 20th Emperor's Cup, is one win ahead of four other wrestlers.
Mongolian Hakuho improved to 6-3 when fellow ozeki Tochiazuma slipped on the sand and fell to 4-5.
Ozeki Chiyotaikai stayed in the hunt for the Emperor's Cup when he shoved Kaio back at the faceoff and then swatted his opponent down to improve to 7-2.
Ozeki Kaio put up little resistance and dropped to 5-4.
Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu was having none of the pre-bout antics of fifth-ranked maegashira Takamisakari and deployed a frontal push out to give both wrestlers a record of 6-3.
Takamisakari gets the crowd riled up with a routine that includes beating his chest and slapping himself in the face.
In earlier bouts, rank-and-filers Tamanoshima and Tamakasuga both lost to fall out of the lead.
Ninth-ranked maegashira Toyonoshima shoved out No. 11 Tamakasuga to give both wrestlers 7-2 records while No. 13 Yoshikaze (5-4) upset fourteenth-ranked Tamanoshima, who fell to 7-2.