Ozeki Kisenosato wins to stay among leaders

Ozeki Kisenosato outlasted Gagamaru to maintain his share of the lead, while yokozuna Hakuho stayed in touch with the early pacesetters with a third win at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.

Kisenosato had to dig deep into his energy reserves but still had too much gumption for the Georgian No. 2 maegashira, forcing him over the straw bales to preserve his prefect start. Gagamaru dropped to 1-3.

Kisenosato, fellow ozeki Kotoshogiku and three lower-ranked wrestlers improved to 4-0 on a day when Estonian Baruto was the only one among the six ozeki to bite the dust at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Hakuho, who lost his opening bout on Sunday, slapped down No. 2 maegashira Myogiryu (1-3) to take another step toward his 23rd Emperor's Cup.

Baruto (3-1), though, returned to the locker room shaking his head after getting mugged at the edge of the ring by Aminishiki (2-2), who prevailed with a pulling overarm throw to claim his second major scalp after opening the meet with an upset win over Hakuho.

"I was able to get a quick attack going. It's a nice feeling (to beat both Hakuho and Baruto)," said Aminishiki. "I just have to keep on giving it my best shot."

Harumafuji (3-1) showed nifty footwork and toppled top-ranked Takayasu (0-4) with a textbook "kotenage" armlock throw and fellow Mongolian Kakuryu (3-1) finally dismantled Toyonoshima (2-2) after an entertaining slugfest in the next bout.

Kakuryu who flirted with a championship at the spring tourney in March before losing to yokozuna Hakuho in a playoff, is fighting in his first tournament as ozeki. He is the first wrestler to attain the rank since Kisenosato secured promotion at the Kyushu basho last November.

Ozeki Kotooshu (2-2) returned to winning ways after back-to-back defeats against Goeido and Toyohibiki, the Bulgarian getting a firm grip on the front of winless Takekaze's mawashi and charging him out of the dohyo.

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