Asashoryu shrugged off fresh reports of thuggish antics off the raised ring to clinch his 25th Emperor's Cup on Saturday with victory over compatriot Harumafuji on the penultimate day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Asashoryu needed to be on top of his game to see off the challenge of ozeki Harumafuji (11-3) in an absorbing encounter at Ryogoku Kokugikan. The Mongolian grand champion had a couple of wobbly moments in the day's finale but his class shone through in the end, sending Harumafuji sprawling with an underarm throw to secure the title with a 13th win.

Asashoryu's latest championship triumph gave him sole possession of third place on the all-time list behind former yokozuna greats Taiho (32) and Chiyonofuji (31).

Back on the dohyo, Hakuho (11-3) registered his first win in three bouts when he tipped Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (8-6) over but it was too little, too late for the grand champion, who had come into the 15- day meet as the favorite to lift his 13th title.

Suffering for his art, Kaio secured a majority of wins by flooring third-ranked Kisenosato with a textbook overarm throw but was left wincing in pain and appeared to be rubbing his strapped knee after stepping down from the dohyo. Both men have 8-6 marks.

In other bouts, Estonian sekiwake Baruto was all smiles after pinging around fourth-ranked Kakizoe (6-8) around like a pinball and dropping him with an "osakate" backward twisting overarm throw for win No. 11.

Kakuryu (6-8) was saddled with a losing record after getting thrust down by sixth-ranked Aminishiki (10-4) on a day that also saw fellow komusubi Kotoshogiku condemned to an eighth loss at the hands of fifth-ranked Kyokutenho (8-6).