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Asashoryu still
going strong

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TOKYO >> Yokozuna Asashoryu started the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament as strong as he has in his rise to yokozuna, beating Kotomitsuki by yorikiri (frontal force out) to improve to 2-0 today.

The 22-year-old Mongolian had always had his troubles with Kotomitsuki, losing five of his past six matches to the maegashira-2 and was only 3-6 against him in his career.

Asashoryu takes on Tochinonada (2-0) tomorrow. He has beaten Tochinonada three of the past four times they have met and is 4-2 against him overall. Ozeki Chiyotaikai will face off against Takamisakari, who he has beaten all three times they have wrestled in their careers.

Ozeki Musoyama and Kaio have started the tournament 0-2, while ozeki Tochiazuma is already a game behind the 12 leaders at 1-1.

Yokozuna Musashimaru, or Hawaii's Fiamalu Penitani, has yet to recover from surgery on his left wrist and is absent for the fourth straight meet. So Chiyotaikai represents the main threat to Asashoryu at the summer basho.

Day 2 Asanowaka (1-1) def. Yotsukasa (1-1) Asasekiryu (1-1) def. Akinoshima (1-1) Buyuzan (2-0) def. Takanotsuru (0-2) Toki (2-0) def. Otsukasa (1-1) Jumonji (2-0) def. Aogiyama (0-2) Tamarikido (2-0) def. Shimotori (0-2) Kotoryu (1-1) def. Gojoro (0-2) Aminishiki (2-0) def. Wakanoyama (1-1) Iwakiyama (1-1) def. Kasugao (1-1) Tamanoshima (2-0) def. Takanowaka (0-2) Tochinonada (2-0) def. Miyabiyama (0-2) Takamisakari (2-0) def. Hokutoriki (0-2) Tosanoumi (1-1) def. Kaiho (0-2) Wakanosato (2-0) def. Kotonowaka (1-1) Chiyotaikai (2-0) def. Takanonami (0-2) Kyokushuzan (1-1) def. Tochiazuma (1-1) Kyokutenho (1-1) def. Musoyama (0-2) Dejima (2-0) def. Kaio (0-2) Asashoryu (2-0) def. Kotomitsuki (0-2)

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