TOKYO —
Veteran ozeki Kisenosato remained in the lead along with a pair of yokozuna on Tuesday, the third day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Hakuho, looking to win his first grand sumo tournament since last May, stayed perfect in the 15-day event at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan as did Mongolian countryman and fellow yokozuna Kakuryu. Five maegashira wrestlers also improved to 3-0.
Kisenosato, who is seeking his first career championship, posted an easy win over No. 2 maegashira Arawashi (0-3). The ozeki’s charge knocked Arawashi off balance and Kisenosato had little trouble forcing him from the ring.
After back-to-back wins over an ozeki and a yokozuna, 24-year-old, top-ranked maegashira Mitakeumi (2-1) offered little resistance to Hakuho. The yokozuna backed him to the straw with his initial charge and forced him out.
Kakuryu improved to 11-1 in his career against Takarafuji (0-3). Repeated shoves to the throat and jaw forced the top-ranked maegashira back to the straw on the tachiai, and from there he was easily dismissed.
A day after an unlucky defeat to Kakuryu, No.
