Ozeki Terunofuji sweated out a victory over Tochinoshin to hop back on the winning track at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
At the halfway point of the meet, Terunofuji (7-1), who suffered his first defeat a day earlier, outlasted top-ranked maegashira Tochinoshin in a marathon of a bout to stay within a win of the two unbeaten yokozuna, Hakuho and Kakuryu.
The 23-year-old Terunofuji will face fellow ozeki Kisenosato on Monday. Kisenosato, alongside fifth-ranked Okinoumi, was two wins off the pace after defeating No. 4 Aminishiki (2-6).
Hakuho was as cool as ice in dismissing No. 3 Kaisei (5-3), who made the Mongolian yokozuna work but succumbed in the end to his authority.
Hakuho is vying for his 35th Emperor's Cup at the ongoing, 15-day tournament.
The 29-year-old Kakuryu, on the other hand, cut it close against third-ranked Ikioi (1-7), having to toe the straw bales before putting his man in pain by throwing him hard off the mound.
Ichinojo (3-5) was too easy for fellow sekiwake Tochiozan, who was never troubled in pushing out his opponent to improve to 7-1.
Also at 7-1, Kagamio rebounded from defeat Saturday to remain in contention, the 14th-ranked maegashira smacking down fellow No. 14 Toyohibiki (4-4).
