Overnight leaders Terunofuji and Ichinojo both suffered underwhelming defeats at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday and will head into the final day deadlocked at 11-3.
Mongolian-born grand champion Terunofuji took a controversial loss against ozeki Shodai, while No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo fell to No. 10 Meisei on the penultimate day of the 15-day tournament at Dolphins Arena, where the field has been ravaged by the coronavirus.
Seven wrestlers joined the absentee list Friday under Japan Sumo Association rules requiring every member of a stable with one reported COVID-19 case to withdraw.