A trio of rank-and-file wrestlers, led by November¡¯s champion, No. 3 maegashira Abi, stood atop the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament standings with 5-0 records on Thursday.
Abi easily fended off Wakatakakage (2-3) to preserve his spot among the leaders. When the sekiwake charged in low and to the right, Abi reacted in a flash and thrust his opponent to the raised ring¡¯s sandy surface.
No. 10 Aoiyama and No. 13 Kotoshoho also won to improve to 5-0 at the 15-day meet at Tokyo¡¯s Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Sekiwake Hoshoryu, the nephew of former Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu, fell from the lead pack when his guileless straight-forward charge collided with resolute No. 1 Daiesho (4-1).
The maegashira dug in his heels, knocked Hoshoryu backward with a pair of well-timed slaps, and the sekiwake, lacking a Plan B, was easily thrust out.
Ozeki Takakeisho, the tournament¡¯s highest ranked wrestler in the absence of sole yokozuna Terunofuji, who is recovering from surgery, remained one win back of the leaders at 4-1 after pushing out veteran No. 2 Tamawashi (3-2). Takakeisho will face Abi on Friday.
Aoiyama took his time but held off winless No. 8 Oho before pulling him off balance and finishing him with an overarm throw. Kotoshoho caught a break when the knee of No. 15 Mitoryu (2-3) buckled under him while attempting an overarm throw.
Komusubi Meisei earned his first win by exploiting a misstep by sekiwake Shodai (1-4), who needs nine more wins to recover the ozeki ranking he lost in November. New komusubi Kotonowaka also beat a former ozeki, sekiwake Takayasu (1-4), to earn his first win.
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