J7 – Inébranlable Hakuhô !

Following the injury withdrawal of compatriot Kakuryu and the retirement of Kisenosato, Hakuho is the last yokozuna in action. The Mongolian superstar beat feisty No. 3 Shohozan on Day 7 of the 15-day tournament.

Shohozan (2-5) started in his usual aggressive fashion, slapping and thrusting from the jump. But Hakuho used his size and reach advantage to keep the maegashira at arm’s length before slapping him to the clay at Ryogoku Kokugikan in 3.6 seconds.

The result kept Hakuho a win clear of a chasing pack made up of No. 6 Onosho (6-1) and three other rank-and-file wrestlers.

Mitakeumi (5-2) became the latest high-profile competitor to withdraw through injury, pulling out after hurting his left leg in a loss to fellow komusubi Myogiryu (3-4) on Day 6.

The fan favorite, who won his maiden top-level title last July, was diagnosed with an injured left knee tendon and internal bleeding following his first defeat of the tournament, his stablemaster Dewanoumi said.

Ozeki Goeido (3-4) picked up his third straight win with a composed frontal force-out of No. 3 Shodai (2-5).

Shodai started strongly, forcing Goeido to the edge of the straw with a quick opening drive, but he could not finish the job. Goeido reversed the momentum and drove Shodai out backward at the opposite side of the ring.

Ozeki Takayasu improved to 4-3 with a thrust-down win over No. 4 Kotoshogiku (4-3), who suffered his 12th straight loss against the former Tagonoura stablemate of Kisenosato.

Kotoshogiku, a former ozeki, opened with a powerful shoulder drive, then used his belly to bounce Takayasu backwards. But Takayasu absorbed the momentum, then showed his strength by wheeling his opponent to the middle of the ring and dumping him on the ground.

Japanese sekiwake Takakeisho, winner of November’s grand tournament, kept his hopes of a title repeat alive with a decisive win over giant Mongolian No. 1 Ichinojo.

Takakeisho (5-2) beat Ichinojo (4-3) off the mark, staying low and driving his hands into the chest and midsection of his lumbering opponent for a quick push-out.

Mongolian sekiwake Tamawashi (5-2) also stayed in the hunt with a win against one of his most troublesome opponents, No. 1 Tochiozan (2-5).

Tochiozan started the bout looking for inside position but Tamawashi pushed him back and out, getting just his third victory from 16 meetings with the Kasugano stable grappler.

Komusubi Myogiryu improved his chances of a winning record and a return to his career-high ranking of sekiwake by beating No. 2 Nishikigi (4-3).

The Sakaigawa grappler secured an inside grip and got the frontal force-out after resisting Nishikigi’s attempts to position himself for a throw.

Brazilian No. 8 Kaisei (6-1) bounced back from his first loss by beating Onosho by frontal thrust out. The two are tied for second place with No. 13 Yago and No. 15 Chiyonokuni.

Yago continued his impressive top-level debut by beating No. 16 Daishomaru (0-7), while Chiyonokuni got the win over No. 14 Yutakayama (4-3).