No. 1 maegashira Asanoyama, the winner of the previous summer tournament, and both yokozuna all posted wins on the opening day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, but the results were mixed for the three ozeki.
Asanoyama, who won his first Emperor's Cup in May, defeated ozeki Goeido to start off strong. He overwhelmed the ozeki, who battled along the edge to stay alive before Asanoyama forced him out.
"I was able to perform my style of sumo, continuously moving forward," Asanoyama said in a post-bout TV interview.
Meanwhile, yokozuna Hakuho, seeking his record-extending 43rd tourney title after returning to the dohyo after sitting out for the summer basho, stood up to the power of Abi, slapping the newly promoted komusubi to the surface.
Yokozuna Kakuryu put on a strong performance, easily forcing out new komusubi Ryuden.
Tochinoshin, who returned to the rank of ozeki after posting 10 wins as a sekiwake in the May tournament, lost to No. 2 maegashira Endo.
Takayasu was the only ozeki to post a win, pushing out No. 1 maegashira Hokutofuji just after the jump-off.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
