HAKUHO MARKS 29TH BIRTHDAY WITH EASY WIN OVER ENDO ON DAY 3

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Yokozuna Hakuho celebrated his 29th birthday on March 11 with a one-sided win over top maegashira Endo at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka, reported asahi.com the same day. In a bout that resembled a practice session, Mongolian Hakuho calmly spun Endo around after the face-off and shoved him out from behind to improve to 3-0 in the day's final bout at Osaka's Prefectural Gymnasium. Hakuho is bidding for his 29th career title, which is just two shy of former great Chiyonofuji and closing in on the all-time record held by Taiho with 32. After impressing in previous tournaments, Endo quickly moved up the ranks and is fighting in this tournament as a top maegashira. But the rising star is getting a rude introduction to the higher ranks and dropped to 0-3 after the loss to Hakuho. Endo was manhandled by yokozuna Harumafuji on March 10 and beaten by ozeki Kakuryu on the opening day of the meet. He will be looking for a break in the bout on March 12 when he faces ozeki Kotoshogiku, a less imposing opponent than the first three. Elsewhere, Harumafuji, who sat out the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with an injury, came in low at the face-off before getting both hands on the back of top maegashira Tamawashi's head and swatting the top maegashira down to stay tied for the lead at 3-0. Tamawashi was no match for the speedy Mongolian and dropped to 0-3. In other major bouts, ozeki Kakuryu, who is bidding for promotion to yokozuna, was handed his first loss of the 15-day tournament when he was shoved out by No. 2 maegashira Okinoumi. Kakuryu was never able to take charge and was knocked off balance by the taller No. 2 maegashira, who won his third straight bout against the Mongolian grappler and improved to 2-1. Ozeki Kisenosato got a right-hand grip on the belt of Shohozan and toppled the winless komusubi at the edge to keep a clean slate and improve to 3-0. Ozeki Kotoshogiku quickly established a grip on the belt and frog-marched Tochinowaka out over the edge to pick up his second win against one loss. Tochinowaka, a No. 2 maegashira, dropped to 1-2. Sekiwake Goeido was all business when he came bursting out of the face-off and overpowered komusubi Toyonoshima to stay perfect at 3-0. Toyonoshima fell to 1-2. In an all-sekiwake showdown, Tochiozan got both arms around Kotooshu (1-2) and muscled out the larger Bulgarian wrestler to improve to 2-1. Egypt's Osunaarashi, fighting as a No. 11 maegashira in the Osaka meet, used his height advantage to shove out No. 12 maegashira Chiyomaru (2-1) and improve to 3-0.