Asashoryu's woeful campaign at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament plunged new depths Monday as the once-dominant Mongolian yokozuna was sentenced to a fourth defeat by sekiwake and compatriot Ama.
Ama's victory kept him in the thick of the title race with another Mongolian, Nagoya champion Hakuho, and rank-and-filer Goeido at 8-1 heading toward the final stretch of the 15-day basho.
Asashoryu's (5-4) performance in the day's penultimate bout was nothing short of pitiful, and it was Ama that looked more like the yokozuna as he quickly spun Asashoryu around and marched him over the straw ridge from behind.