The big question heading into the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament is not if grand champion Asashoryu will win yet another title, but whether the Mongolian grappler will be handed a single loss during the 15-day meet.
Asashoryu has lost just one bout out of 30 on his way to winning the first two tournaments held this year.
Asashoryu captured his 11th Emperor's Cup at the Spring tourney in March with a 14-1 record. The yokozuna went a perfect 15-0 in the New Year meet in January and will be gunning for his eighth title in the last nine tournaments when the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament begins on Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.