Sumo: Onosato improves to 10-0, moves 2 wins ahead in title race
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Onosato advanced to a perfect 10-0 and moved two wins clear in the title race Tuesday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with an easy victory over No. 4 maegashira Ichiyamamoto.
The 24-year-old powerhouse received a big boost in his quest for back-to-back championships and promotion to yokozuna after his nearest rivals coming into Day 10, rank-and-file youngsters Hakuoho and Aonishiki, both dropped to 8-2.
Current sole yokozuna Hoshoryu, meanwhile, improved to 8-2, but ozeki Kotozakura struggled to find consistency as he dropped to 6-4 at Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.
Having won their only previous meeting in the top division, Onosato was never in doubt against Ichiyamamoto (4-6), driving him to the edge and pushing him down after the maegashira half-heartedly tried an evasive maneuver.
Hoshoryu used a rear push out to dispatch agile No. 5 maegashira Ura (2-8), sending him over the edge after an unsuccessful slap-down attempt at the opening charge. The yokozuna moved onto the second rung of the leaderboard alongside Hakuoho, Aonishiki and komusubi Wakatakakage.
Former sekiwake Wakatakakage (8-2) clinched his winning record by defeating exciting young Ukrainian prospect Aonishiki in one of the day's highlight bouts.
Exhibiting similar styles, but with a gulf in experience between them, the pair grappled furiously before Wakatakakage toppled 21-year-old No. 9 maegashira Aonishiki with an under-shoulder swing down.
"Whoever I face, I'm just concentrating on doing my own sumo," Wakatakakage said.
Sekiwake Daieisho (7-3) overwhelmed No. 7 maegashira Hakuoho by sticking to his strengths and unleashing a decisive thrusting attack straight from the jump.
Kotozakura was once again unable to overcome one of his bogey opponents, current sekiwake and former ozeki Kirishima (7-3), who improved to 13-4 in their head-to-head rivalry with a force out.
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