FUKUOKA (Kyodo) — Ozeki Hoshoryu and Kotozakura battled tough opponents Sunday to maintain their share of the lead at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

The ozeki pair are tied at four with former sekiwake Takanosho and Mongolian No. 15 maegashira Onokatsu after improving to 7-1 on matchday eight at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Mongolian star Hoshoryu bounced back from his first defeat thanks to a clinically executed arm throw against one of his compatriots, No. 4 maegashira Oshoma (2-6).

Kotozakura sweated in his victory against No. 4 maegashira Churanoumi (2-6), who avoided a force takedown and looked to counter before finally succumbing to a twisting arm throw.

No. 6 maegashira Takanosho secured his top spot by knocking out ninth-ranked maegashira Midorifuji (3-5) after Onokatsu opened the day in the elite makuuchi division with a win over No. 6 maegashira Asakoryu °17 (3-5). .

New ozeki Onosato, former sekiwake Abi, returning first division takerufuji and No. 10 maegashira Takarafuji finished the day second in the standings with a 6-2 record.

Onosato, winner of the May and September tournament, made short work of maegashira Tobizaru n°5 (5-3), knocking him back from the dohyo with his opening charge.

No. 3 maegashira Abi, who defeated Hoshoryu and Onosato in the 15-day tournament, scored another impressive victory by fending off second-ranked maegashira Ura (2-6).

Maegashira No. 16 Takerufuji (6-2) eliminated veteran maegashira No. 13 Ryuden (2-6). The 25-year-old is competing in his second top-level competition, having won his first makuuchi tournament in March before falling down the rankings due to a leg injury.