Yokozuna Terunofuji kept his place among the leading pack at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament with a hard-fought win over rank-and-file grappler Endo.
Gunning for his second straight Emperor’s Cup and eighth overall, the Mongolian-born yokozuna improved to 7-2 by pushing out No. 5 maegashira Endo (2-7) in the final bout of Day 9 at Nagoya’s Dolphins Arena.
Terunofuji kept his composure after being driven all the way back to the edge by Endo, wrenching the maegashira off balance and shoving him out of the dohyo.
Terunofuji is tied for the lead at the 15-day tournament with five other wrestlers including Ichinojo and Kotonowaka, both No. 2 maegashira.
Rising star Kotonowaka notched an impressive force-out victory over sekiwake Wakatakakage, winner of the March grand tournament.
Wakatakakage (5-4) drove Kotonowaka to the edge before the 24-year-old thoroughbred forced the action back across the ring and hoisted his opponent out.
Towering former sekiwake Ichinojo used his 192-cm, 211-kg frame to force out No. 1 Kiribayama (3-6).
Ozeki Takakeisho barely broke a sweat as he improved to 6-3 with a slap-down win over No. 4 Wakamotoharu (4-5).
The maegashira, who gave Terunofuji a scare a day earlier, lost his footing as he flew out of the blocks and was easily brushed to the clay by the ozeki.
Demotion-threatened kadoban ozeki Shodai took another step toward the eight wins needed to keep his rank, thrusting down komusubi Abi.
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