Sports Jul. 15, 2008 - 09:06PM JST ( 18 )

NAGOYA —

Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu fell to his second defeat in three days at the hands of Toyonoshima Tuesday and has quickly turned his bid for a promotion to sumo’s highest rank of yokozuna into a lost cause at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Kotooshu lost his fourth straight match to Toyonoshima, again falling victim to the komusubi’s perfectly time beltless arm throw for a 1-2 record.

Grand champion Asashoryu, meanwhile, picked up his second straight win with a quick dismantling of Aminishiki to improve to 2-1 in the day’s finale. Yokozuna Hakuho rolled over 20-year-old Russian youngster Wakanoho with a well-timed overarm throw to remain perfect in the early lead in a group of six wrestlers at 3-0. In other key bouts, ozeki Kotomitsuki continued his winning ways with an underarm throw of Mongolian Asasekiryu after a brief struggle, ozeki Chiyotaikai was shoved out by Kisenosato, while fellow ozeki Kaio made mincemeat of winless Hokutoriki to stay strong at 2-1. Mongolian sekiwake Ama choked Wakanosato with one hand before ripping through the No. 4 maegashira in a frontal takeout to improve to 3-0.