Grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia picked up right where he left off last year with a convincing win over compatriot Hakuho on the opening day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Fighting in the finale at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Asashoryu quickly went on the attack and forced the komusubi wrestler back with a series of powerful arm thrusts to the upper body.

Hakuho appeared to have weathered the storm against his Mongolian mentor with a few arm thrusts of his own but the ringside judges correctly ruled that he stepped over the straw ridge with his left foot.