With star wrestlers withdrawing from the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament one after another, 25-year-old sekiwake Mitakeumi is working hard to keep fans' attention on the ring.
Mitakeumi (7-0) remained the sole leader on Saturday by beating No. 1 maegashira Kotoshogiku on Day 7 in Nagoya, after new ozeki Tochinoshin joined the list of high-ranking wrestlers who are not in the basho.
Mitakeumi and Kotoshogiku locked up in the middle of the ring after the jump-off. After several deadlocked moments, the sekiwake powered forward to force out the former ozeki.
The fates shined in different ways on the last of the top six wrestlers still in the tournament: ozeki Takayasu and Goeido. Takayasu beat No. 3 maegashira Abi to improve to 5-2, while Goeido suffered his third loss with a defeat to No. 3 maegashira Takakeisho.
Tochinoshin submitted his withdrawal from the tournament earlier in the day. He injured his right big toe during the previous day's bout against Tamawashi when he suffered his first loss of the tournament. The injury will require about one month to heal, according to a medical certificate.
All three yokozuna are out of the Nagoya basho, with Kakuryu withdrawing on Day 6, Hakuho leaving on Day 4 and Kisenosato not entering the tournament because of injury.
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