Yokozuna Asashoryu was handed his second straight loss on Friday when he was overpowered by ozeki Tochiazuma on the 13th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu, who was thrown out by sekiwake Wakanosato for his first loss on Thursday, was unable to take control when Tochiazuma got a hold of the grand champion’s belt shortly after the face off in the day’s final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Tochiazuma forced his opponent to the edge and calmly lifted him out to improve 9-4.
Asashoryu dropped to 11-2 but maintained a one-win lead over Chiyotaikai, who lost to Kaio, and lower-ranked wrestler Kotomitsuki.
Asashoryu is bidding for his fourth Emperor’s Cup and will face Chiyotaikai on Saturday.
In a rematch of the final of July’s Nagoya tourney, ozeki Kaio overpowered Chiyotaikai with a series of powerful arm thrusts to improve to 7-6.
Chiyotaikai, who dropped to 10-3, found his trademark arm thrusts were of limited effect against the burly ozeki, who won the Nagoya tournament but has struggled in the Autumn meet.
In earlier bouts, Wakanosato got a right-hand grip of Tochinonada’s belt and lifted the top maegashira out for his ninth win while handing his opponent his seventh loss against six wins.
No. 6 maegashira Kotomitsuki was all business in a one-sided win over crowd favorite Takamisakari.
Kotomitsuki improved to 10-3 when he came charging out of the blocks and bulldozed Takamisakari out in a matter of seconds.
Top maegashira Takamisakari, who gets the crowd worked up with a face-slapping routine before every bout, dropped to 8-5.
Further down the ranks, Mongolian Kyokutenho, a No. 2 maegashira, shoved out No. 9 maegashira Kinkaiyama to improve to 9-4. Kinkaiyama dropped to 8-5.
Former ozeki Dejima, a No. 10 maegashira, shoved out Mongolian Kyokushuzan to pick up his sixth win against seven losses. No. 8 maegashira Kyokushuzan fell to 6-7.
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