Lone yokozuna Terunofuji and former ozeki Asanoyama moved into a two-way tie for the lead Tuesday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament where a pair of talented newcomers caused big upsets.
Terunofuji and current No. 14 maegashira Asanoyama held serve to improve to 9-1, but the other joint overnight leader, No. 6 maegashira Meisei, was outgunned by 21-year-old No. 11 Hokuseiho, who debuted in the elite makuuchi division at the previous tournament.
Day 10's biggest shock at Ryogoku Kokugikan, however, was No. 5 Kinbozan's victory over demotion-threatened kadoban ozeki Takakeisho (6-4), who remains two wins shy of the eight needed to remain at the second-highest rank.
Kazakhstan-born Kinbozan (4-6), who also debuted in the top flight in March, neutralized Takakeisho's normally powerful opening charge and pushed him over the straw.
"After the opening charge, I realized I had an opportunity to attack from the left and just went forward," said Kinbozan, the Central Asian country's first wrestler to reach the makuuchi division.
A day after earning a "kinboshi" gold star award for defeating Terunofuji, former sekiwake Meisei learned firsthand why Hokuseiho is one of sumo's most highly touted youngsters.
The 204-centimeter, 185-kilogram Hokuseiho (8-2) resisted repeated force-out attempts before dropping Meisei with an overarm throw.
"I'd studied his form (and) knew where he wanted to go," said Hokuseiho, a member of the Miyagino stable under former yokozuna Hakuho. "I'm just going to try to do my own sumo and concentrate on one day of the tournament at a time."
Terunofuji had his hands full against komusubi Kotonowaka (4-6), who rallied back from a force-out attempt and drove the action to the opposite side of the ring before the yokozuna eventually hoisted him over the straw.
March champion Kiribayama (8-2) stayed in the hunt for his second straight title and promotion to ozeki at the 15-day meet with an emphatic arm-lock throw win over fellow sekiwake Wakamotoharu (7-3).
Asanoyama, back in the top division for the first time since his lengthy suspension for breaking coronavirus safety rules, slapped down No. 9 Hiradoumi (7-3).
