It wasn't classy, but Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho got some payback against Yoshikaze on Wednesday, defeating the komusubi upstart to preserve his share of the lead at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Hakuho used a frowned-upon side-step maneuver at the charge to mug Yoshikaze (2-2) and send him to the dirt in the day's penultimate bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Hakuho, who lost to Yoshikaze on the second day of the Autumn meet before pulling out the next day with a knee injury, improved to 4-0 and shares the lead with ozeki Kotoshogiku and maegashira duo Ikioi and Chiyotoori.