Mongolian ozeki hopeful Asashoryu was given a sumo lesson by veteran Takanonami and ozeki Chiyotaikai was blown away by komusubi Tosanoumi on Tuesday as the overnight leaders crashed to their first defeats of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
The losses allowed grand champion Musashimaru to grab a share of the lead at 9-1 as the Samoa-born giant manhandled No. 6 maegashira Kotomitsuki for a sixth straight win in the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Asashoryu came out with all guns blazing at the charge but was thrown off balance after an attempted leg trip backfired and allowed seventh-ranked Takanonami (8-2) to bump the fiery sekiwake over the straw ridge and squash him onto the dirt surface.
Asashoryu still needs to win at least two of his five remaining bouts in the 15-day meet to stand a chance of becoming the first Mongolian wrestler to be promoted to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki.