Yokozuna Asashoryu manhandled Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu while rival yokozuna Hakuho brushed aside sekiwake Aminishiki to move into a two-way tie for the lead on the 11th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
Sumo's two Mongolian yokozuna are on a collision course with 10-1 records with just four days remaining at the 15-day meet. Rank-and-filers Kyokutenho and Kakuryu sit one off the pace at 9-2.
In the day's penultimate bout, Asashoryu was never in danger against Kotooshu and smacked the ozeki to the dirt surface after a quick-fire of thrusts almost immediately out of the crouch at Ryogoku Kokugikan.