Grand champion Asashoryu made a narrow escape from certain defeat Thursday, dispatching rank-and-filer Toyonoshima to stay one behind undefeated yokozuna Hakuho on the fifth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day's penultimate bout, Asashoryu got embroiled in a fierce exchange of shoves with Toyonoshima before deploying a last-ditch overarm throw with his back precariously on the edge as both wrestlers fell to the dohyo surface at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
No. 2 maegashira Toyonoshima glanced over to the ringside judges for a possible appeal but the ruling stood in favor of Asashoryu, who improved to 4-1. Toyonoshima slipped to a 2-3 mark.