OSAKA (Kyodo) -- New yokozuna Hoshoryu walked a tight rope but claimed his second straight win at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday, defeating No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu with a headlock throw on the third day of action.

Both wrestlers briefly held left underarm belt holds at Edion Arena Osaka, where Hoshoryu (2-1) moved fast to make his next move with a forceful right armlock throw that swung Wakamotoharu (2-1) around but lacked power to leave them tangling near the edge.

With the tie in balance, the yokozuna shifted his throwing arm instinctively to nudge the neck of Wakamotoharu, which proved enough to send the rank-and-filer to the sandy surface.

Ozeki Onosato (3-0) continued his perfect start, shoving Gonoyama (1-2) from one end of the ring to the other and out after the No. 2 maegashira failed to keep up his promising early pressure.

Demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Kotozakura (1-2) fell to a defeat despite withstanding a powerful opening drive from Abi (3-0). The Kyushu meet winner in November lacked the final push and allowed the komusubi, who beat Hoshoryu on the opening day, to recover en route to a push-out win.

Former ozeki Takayasu, currently a No. 4 maegashira, is among four rank-and-filers to begin the 15-day meet with three straight wins alongside Onosato and Abi.

New sekiwake Oho (1-2) got his first victory after pushing out No. 3 maegashira Tobizaru (0-3), while another sekiwake Daiesho (2-1) thrust down top-ranked maegashira Wakatakakage (0-3) in the middle of the ring.

Ukrainian makuuchi debutant and No. 15 maegashira Aonishiki (1-2), meanwhile, won his first bout in the top division with a left underarm throw against another No. 15 maegashira Sadanoumi (0-3).

The 20-year-old, who fled the war-hit country and arrived in Japan in April 2022, entered the top division after nine tournaments, the equal fastest promotion pace from the bottom tier since 1958 when sumo adopted the current calendar of six grand tournaments per year.

"I've finally won. I was focused on giving my all with things I can do," said a relieved Aonishiki after a memorable bout in Osaka, where he trained at Kansai University before entering professional sumo in December 2022.