Yokozuna Asashoryu rode his luck again to defeat Kyokutenho and keep his unbeaten record intact while ozeki Chiyotaikai blasted out Kyokushuzan to get his yokozuna promotion campaign back on track at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
Asashoryu again failed to convince in an all-Mongolian affair at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan and needed every ounce of strength to tip komusubi Kyokutenho over the edge of the ring and maintain his share of the overnight lead at 4-0.
After repeatedly ramming the seemingly immovable Kyokutenho up against the ridge, the yokozuna huffed and puffed before finally managing to complete the job and avenge his only ever defeat by the komusubi on his debut at yokozuna in the spring meet.