Kotooshu downs Tamanoshima to stay undefeated

Bulgarian sekiwake Kotooshu dispatched Tamanoshima to maintain the sole lead with a spotless record at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.

News photoKotooshu unleashes an upper-arm throw to No. 8 maegashira Tamanoshima at the Autumn Grand Sumo
Tournament on Tuesday at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Kotooshu used his 204-cm frame to perfection, wrapping his long arms around his opponent’s belt before dumping him over the edge with a trademark overarm throw to improve to a perfect 10-0 at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Tamanoshima, who appeared to have the edge when he charged the sekiwake back onto his heels after the faceoff, slipped to 6-4.

Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, meanwhile, stayed hot in pursuit with his ninth victory in a no-nonsense victory over Kotomitsuki in the day’s finale.

Asashoryu, who is aiming for a record-tying sixth consecutive title and 14th career Emperor’s Cup, shoved the komusubi off-balance immediately after the faceoff and laid the pressure on thick in a relentless attack to blast his opponent over the edge. Kotomitsuki slipped to 6-4 at the 15-day meet.

In another key bout, teenage sensation Kisenosato crushed Ama (6-4), quickly moving in from the left side after the faceoff to usher out his smaller opponent in a one-sided affair to stay one off the pace with the yokozuna.

At ozeki, Tochiazuma notched a winning record when he swatted down Kyokutenho (6-4) just seconds after the faceoff, while Chiyotaikai hit Dejima (3-7) with a salvo of thrusts and slaps before knocking his opponent forward onto the dirt surface.

Chiyotaikai, who is facing relegation for a record eighth time, moved one win from keeping his ozeki status.

It was a great day for Russian siblings Roho (6-4) and Hakurozan (5-5), who disposed of Kasugao (6-4) and Shimotori (5-5), respectively, to inch closer to posting winning records.

Kokkai (2-8), a wrestler from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, charged full steam ahead before ramming out Miyabiyama (3-7) to pick up his first official win after a victory by default to injury-hit sekiwake Wakanosato.

Newly promoted komusubi Futeno, who stunned Asashoryu in a victory on the opening day of the meet, dropped to his eighth consecutive defeat for a losing record after being tossed down like a rage doll by Mongolian Hakuho (7-3).

Crowd pleaser Takamisakari did a one-legged balancing act on the ring’s edge before slamming Kotoshogiku over the edge with an effective arm throw to move to 4-6.