Four wrestlers including sekiwake Hoshoryu and No. 1 maegashira Takayasu maintained their lead midway through the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament with victories on Sunday.
In the hunt for his first Emperor's Cup, Hoshoryu (7-1), the nephew of former Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu, displayed his range of attacking tools to outmuscle new komusubi Tobizaru (4-4) at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
After slapping Tobizaru in the face, Hoshoryu quickly grabbed a left overarm belt hold and attempted an outside leg trip. Tobizaru held on and responded with a foot sweep but Hoshoyu was untroubled, launching a decisive right overarm throw instead to settle the encounter.
Takayasu had to overcome some nifty footwork from Kiribayama (5-3) as the komusubi kept dodging the charging former ozeki. But after losing his footing a few times, Takayasu finally brought Kiribayama to a halt before a powerful right beltless arm throw forced him to the sandy surface.
No. 9 Abi earned his seventh win to remain among the leaders. The former sekiwake's opening pushes to the throat left No. 7 Endo (2-6) vulnerable in a one-sided push out.
No. 13 Oho won his seventh straight bout, his patient low drives proving enough to push out No. 15 makuuchi-division debutant Atamifuji (3-5).
Ozeki Takakeisho (6-2), the highest-ranked wrestler in Fukuoka with lone yokozuna Terunofuji out due to injury, won his fourth straight by comfortably thrusting out No. 4 Wakamotoharu (4-4).
Demotion-threatened ozeki Shodai (4-4), however, fell to Sadanoumi (4-4). Needing eight wins to remain at the second-highest rank, Shodai forced the No. 4 maegashira off balance but was swiveled out of the ring with a pulling overarm throw.
Sekiwake Mitakeumi (4-4) was easily swung down to defeat by No. 1 Kotonowaka (5-3), suffering a damaging third straight defeat. Demoted from ozeki ahead of the meet, Mitakeumi needs 10 wins to regain his rank.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage (5-3) withstood the thrusts of komusubi Daieisho (3-5) en route to a force-out win, while September's Autumn champion, Tamawashi, fell to 1-7 as No. 2 Meisei (4-4) pulled down the veteran komusubi.
