Mongolian Hakuho coasted to victory over Tokitenku on Saturday to stay undefeated and tied for the lead at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
Ozeki Chiyotaikai (left) takes his first loss of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament as he was pulled down
by komusubi Toyonoshima on the seventh day at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Saturday. Chiyotaikai is now
6-1.
KYODO PHOTO Ozeki Hakuho, who is bidding for promotion to yokozuna, improved to 7-0 in the 15-day tourney when he sent top maegashira Tokitenku sprawling to the dirt surface with an arm throw.
Tokitenku fell to 3-4.
Hakuho won the Spring tourney in March and another Emperor's Cup in this meet would ensure that sumo has two grand champions for the first time since 2003.
Hakuho's main rival, yokozuna Asashoryu, kept pace at 7-0 with a win over Tamanoshima.
Asashoryu, who is bidding for his 21st Emperor's Cup, forced No. 2 maegashira Tamanoshima back at the faceoff and then sent his opponent out with an emphatic shove to stay undefeated.
Tamanoshima fell to 1-6.
In other major bouts, ozeki Chiyotaikai was handed his first loss and dropped to 6-1 when his trademark arm thrusts backfired in a bout against komusubi Toyonoshima, who picked up his first win.
Chiyotaikai released a series of rapid-fire thrusts to the upper body of Toyonoshima, who calmly stepped to his side and let Chiyotaikai's momentum carry him out and over the ridge.
Resurgent ozeki Kaio overpowered top maegashira Homasho to stay tied for the lead at 7-0.
Homasho dropped to 1-6.
Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu dodged to his side at the faceoff and swatted third-ranked maegashira Kisenosato down to pick up his sixth win against a lone loss.
Kisenosato fell to 4-3.
Sekiwake Kotomitsuki overcame a determined effort by Mongolian Ama to improve to 6-1.