Yokozuna Musashimaru was pushed to the brink of his second loss Wednesday but battled back to capture his 10th win and remains in a three-way tie for the lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Sekiwake Asashoryu and ozeki Chiyotaikai both bounced back from losses the previous day with lopsided victories at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium to stay neck and neck with Musashimaru at 10-1 for the Emperor's Cup spoils.

In the day's final bout, Musashimaru was taken off-guard when fifth-ranked maegashira Hokutoriki (4-7) throttled him by the neck with a stiff and relentless right-hand, shoving the Samoan-born grand champion to the edge of the raised ring.

Musashimaru pounded Hokutoriki backward, but Hokutoriki continued to stick the burly 231-kilogram yokozuna with his pesky throat-grab. Musashimaru then unleashed a mighty blast that sent his smaller opponent retreating over the bales.