TOKYO - Ozeki Kirishima grabbed a memorable last-ditch victory over joint overnight leader and No. 13 maegashira Kotoeiho at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday, retaking the outright lead with two days remaining.
Kirishima (11-2) was given an early warning from a lively Kotoeiho (10-3), who was quick in seizing a right overarm belt hold and forced the re-promoted ozeki into making a desperate beltless arm throw while backing off in a frenetic start at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
While the pair returned to the middle for a brief standstill, it was Kotoeiho who again got a belt hold, first with a left underarm and then his right overarm as an upset loomed. But a backpedaling Kirishima conjured up an extraordinary backward pivot throw at the edge while keeping himself in with his right foot on the straw bales.
The gyoji referee initially named Kotoeiho the winner, but the ringside judges gathered and rightly found the rank-and-filer's hand touching the sand first while the two tangling wrestlers hit the floor almost simultaneously.
Komusubi Wakatakakage (10-3) came out stronger from the opening tussle with his fellow title chaser Tobizaru (9-4) before he showed good drive and emphatically lifted the No. 15 maegashira out of the raised ring.
No. 2 maegashira Yoshinofuji (10-3) prevailed against popular wrestler Ura (9-4) to stretch his winning streak to nine bouts, overpowering the No. 11 maegashira from the start and chasing him around the ring before pushing the stocky trickster out of the dohyo.
New sekiwake Kotoshoho (8-5), Kotoeiho's elder brother, was put under pressure but outlasted No. 5 maegashira Shodai (6-7) in a push-out victory, securing a winning record.
Also making his debut at the third-highest rank, Atamifuji (7-6) recovered from a soft opening and withstood a slap to the face from No. 7 maegashira Chiyoshoma (5-8) before forcefully pushing his opponent out.
No. 10 maegashira Hakunofuji and No. 17 maegashira Fujiryoga both won to improve to 9-4.
