Lone yokozuna Terunofuji defeated Kotoshoho to move into sole possession of the lead at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, May 21, a day that featured multiple upsets that altered the leaderboard.
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, grand champion Terunofuji didn't flinch at the face-off and calmly shoved out the No. 5 maegashira to improve to a perfect 8-0 at the midway point of the 15-day Summer Basho.
Kotoshoho, who put up little resistance, dropped to 1-7.
Bidding for his eighth Emperor's Cup in his return to completion after missing all or parts of the previous four meets, Terunofuji is one win ahead of rank-and-filers Meisei and Asanoyama.
Hokuseiho Conquers Asanoyama
The upsets started early on Day 8 when Hokuseiho deployed a powerful underarm throw at the edge to defeat Asanoyama. As a result, Hokuseiho handed the former ozeki his first loss of the tournament, knocking him out of the lead.
No. 11 maegashira Hokuseiho dodged to his side at the face-off and then got a right-handed inside grip on the belt of his opponent before sending the No. 14 maegashira sprawling to the dirt surface.
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Hokuseiho is very much in contention at 6-2 while Asanoyama fell to 7-1.
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