Sekiwake Asanoyama maintained a clean slate in his push for promotion to ozeki, defeating komusubi Hokutofuji with a mighty throw on the fourth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on Wednesday.
Hokutofuji (2-2) moved Asanoyama backward to the edge of the ring on the jump-off, but the sekiwake pushed back and threw the komusubi to the dirt, even without securing a belt hold.
His fourth win gets Asanoyama closer to the 12 he likely needs this tourney for promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki. Under the informal criteria, a wrestler needs at least 33 wins over three consecutive tournaments as a sekiwake or komusubi -- Asanoyama notched 21 wins in the previous two tournaments.
Yokozuna Hakuho, who is seeking a record-extending 44th title in the upper-most makuuchi division, and No. 3 maegashira Mitakeumi also remained unbeaten with wins on Wednesday.
Hakuho celebrated his 35th birthday with win over No. 2 maegashira Okinoumi (1-3) in a rather lengthy bout. After a mid-ring struggle with mutally locked arms, Hakuho managed to throw the maegashira out of ring with a strong belt grip.
Mitakeumi needed much less time to push out No. 3 maegashira Yutakayama (2-2) with a strong drive from the start.
In the final bout of the day in a spectator-less Edion Arena Osaka, yokozuna Kakuryu slammed down No. 1 maegashira Takayasu to improve to 3-1. Former ozeki Takayasu, in addition to being dealt his fourth loss of the tourney, took a long time getting up from the ring, apparently suffering a left leg injury when he was thrown down.
Sole ozeki Takakeisho saw his record fall to 2-2 when he lost to previously winless No. 1 maegashira Daieisho. Takekeisho was pushed out as he tried to pull down the maegashira.
Among lower-ranked wrestlers, No. 9 maegashira Takanosho, No. 12 maegashira Ishiura and No. 13 maegashira Aoiyama also improved to 4-0.
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