Yokozuna Kakuryu and sekiwake Tochinoshin both improved to 8-1 to maintain a share of the lead on the ninth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Monday.
The Mongolian yokozuna quickly forced No. 4 maegashira Okinoumi (2-7) out of the ring, while Georgian wrestler Tochinoshin won by default after ozeki Takakeisho withdrew from the basho.
No. 8 maegashira Asanoyama (8-1) also claimed a share of the lead as he slammed No. 5 maegashira Ryuden (6-3) to the ground just outside of the ring.
No. 14 maegashira Enho and No. 15 maegashira Kotoeko remain in the mix with 7-2 records.
Lightweight sensation Enho was pushed to the edge of the bales but recovered to slap top juryo wrestler Toyonoshima out of the ring. Kotoeko won by pushing out No. 11 maegashira Tochiozan (5-4).
Takakeisho, who returned to the ring the previous day only to suffer defeat, dropped out of the tournament Monday after further injuring his right knee.
The newly promoted ozeki initially exited the basho Thursday due to an injury he picked up Wednesday during his win over komusubi Mitakeumi. Takakeisho felt his knee had sufficiently recovered to resume competition, but lost Sunday in his return bout and opted to focus on his recovery. The withdrawal marks the first time an ozeki or yokozuna has twice exited the same tourney since the 15-day basho system was fully established in the summer of 1949.
Takakeisho will almost certainly enter the next tournament in July under kadoban status, meaning he needs a majority of at least eight wins to maintain his ozeki rank. He will be demoted to sekiwake if he does not clear this threshold.
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