Sekiwake Hoshoyru overpowered demotion-threatened kadoban ozeki Shodai to remain tied for the lead with rank-and-file wrestler Oho at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.
Chasing his maiden top-level title, the 23-year-old rising star from Mongolia improved to 9-1 by beating Shodai (4-6) on Day 10 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center after No. 13 maegashira Oho got the better of No. 10 Aoiyama (4-6).
A native of Kyushu's Kumamoto Prefecture, Shodai received hearty cheers from the crowd before his short-lived battle with Hoshoryu. The sekiwake came in hard and fast, taking the action to the edge and crushing out the ozeki, who needs eight wins here to keep his rank.