OSAKA - Sekiwake Kirishima edged past joint overnight leader Gonoyama to take the outright lead after 11 days at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday as yokozuna Hoshoryu and No. 5 maegashira Takanosho stayed a win back.
Kirishima (10-1) was tested from the off as a sharp drive from No. 10 maegashira Gonoyama (9-2) forced him to step aside to his left before the sekiwake's left foot slipped while backing off at Edion Arena Osaka.
Gonoyama piled on the pressure and went for the final foray that left Kirishima with his left foot on the straw bales. But the former ozeki desperately shook off his opponent while shifting his body again to his left in a crucial moment to snatch a big win by a thrust-down.
Hoshoryu (9-2) navigated a two-handed opening thrust from Takayasu (6-5) before jumping backward to his left against the sekiwake. The grand champion was under pressure but used his right hand to push down the head of the former ozeki before pulling him down to his fourth straight defeat.
Hoshoryu will face his fellow Mongolian-born wrestler Kirishima on Thursday as he chases his first Emperor's Cup since getting promoted to yokozuna ahead of the Spring meet last year.
Ozeki Aonishiki (5-6) was on the verge of a third straight win by overwhelming Kotoshoho (9-2) with his trademark low-angled attack, but the repeated slap-downs from the in-form rank-and-filer worked in the end as the Ukrainian star fell at the edge.
Ozeki Kotozakura (7-4) was calm under early attack from Takanosho (7-4) before pushing out the No. 4 maegashira, who dropped out of the title race after his third straight defeat.
No. 13 maegashira Fujiseiun (8-3) is the only wrestler in the third rung of the leaderboard after the elite makuuchi-division debutant forced out No. 11 maegashira Oshoumi (2-9).
