Friday, Sept. 16, 2005

Grand champion Asashoryu overwhelmed Kakizoe on Thursday, while Bulgarian Kotooshu claimed the sole lead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Yokozuna Asashoryu (right) sees off the challenge of Kakizoe on Thursday at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Mongolian Asashoryu was all business in the day's final bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan when he deployed several powerful arm thrusts to send the No. 2 maegashira over the straw ridge.

Asashoryu, who is gunning for his sixth straight Emperor's Cup, won his fourth straight bout and improved to 4-1 while Kakizoe dropped to 1-4.

Sekiwake debutante Kotooshu continued his impressive form when he swatted down top maegashira Miyabiyama to remain undefeated and in the lead at 5-0.

Miyabiyama, who was no match for the lanky Bulgarian, dropped to an unflattering 1-4.

Chiyotaikai, who needs a winning record in the 15-day tourney to maintain his ozeki status, posted his third straight win after opening with two losses when he shoved No. 4 maegashira Iwakiyama out from behind. Iwakiyama stands at 3-2.

Chiyotaikai has looked sharp since the third day of the tourney but limped off the raised ring following Thursday's win, favoring his left leg.

Ozeki Tochiazuma dodged a bullet when he was pushed back at the faceoff by a determined Dejima, but stepped to his side at the last minute and swatted the No. 3 maegashira down to remain one win off the pace at 4-1. Dejima was handed his third loss.

Sekiwake Wakanosato picked up his fourth win against a lone loss when he deployed a textbook arm throw to dispatch komusubi Futeno, who has struggled since upending Asashoryu on the opening day and fell to 2-3.

Komusubi Kotomitsuki kept pace when he got a grip on Kokkai's belt and flung the struggling No. 2 maegashira to the dirt surface to improve to 4-1. Kokkai has had a disastrous outing so far and dropped to 0-5.

Earlier, No. 8 maegashira Tamanoshima handed Aminishiki his first loss of the tournament when he tripped up the fifth-ranked maegashira at the center of the ring. Both wrestlers stand at 4-1.

Mongolian Kyokutenho, a No. 3 maegashira, hauled down sixth-ranked Kotoshogiku to improve to 4-1. Kotoshogiku dropped to 3-2.

Fourth-ranked maegashira Kyokushuzan upended winless No. 6 maegashira Tokitenku to improve to 3-2.

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