Sumo

By Associated Press

Monday, January 13, 1997

Akebono, Musashimaru
share lead after two days

TOKYO - Hawaiian-born Akebono, fellow yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana and all three ozekis (champions) remained undefeated at 2-0 today, the second day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo tournament.

Wrestling at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in downtown Tokyo, Akebono, or Chad Rowan, charged No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tochinowaka with hand thrusts and pushed him out, handing Tochinowaka his second defeat against no victories.

Takanohana held off No. 2 maegashira Tamakasuga's initial charge of hand thrusts at the ring's edge, grabbed his foe's belt and forced him out. Tamakasuga is 0-2.

In other major bouts, ozeki Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani of Hawaii, bulldozed out No. 3 maegashira Asahiyutaka, who stepped to the right in the initial charge. Asahiyutaka is 1-1.

Ozeki Wakanohana threw down No. 2 maegashira Kenko and ozeki Takanonami slapped down komusubi (junior champion second class) Musoyama. Kenko is 1-1 and Musoyama 0-2.

No. 3 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Batbayar Davaa of Mongolia, charged sekiwake (junior champion) Kaio with a leg trick, grabbed his foe's belt from behind and sent him out for his second victory against no defeats. Kaio is 1-1.

No. 13 maegashira Konishiki, or Salevaa Fuauli Atisanoe from Hawaii, grabbed No. 15 maegashira Shikishima's belt and threw him down, leaving both wrestlers at 1-1.

No. 14 maegashira Yamato drove No. 15 maegashira Misugisato to the ring's edge, but Misugisato slapped him down. Yamato, or George Kalima from Hawaii, is 0-2, while Misugisato is 2-0.

In the 26-member juryo division just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 11-ranked Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, crushed No. 12-ranked Ohinode, leaving both wrestlers at 1-1.

No. 10-ranked Sunahama, or William Hopkins of Hawaii, was thrown down by No. 12-ranked Chiyotenzan. Sunahama and Chiyotenzan are both 1-1.

In makushita, the top junior division, No. 31-ranked Hoshitango (1-0), or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, pushed out equally ranked Tochitenko.

No. 43-ranked Daiki (1-0), or Percy Kipapa of Hawaii, forced out equally ranked Amagifuji.

But No. 8-ranked Sentoryu (0-1), or American Henry Armstrong Miller, was sent out from behind by equally ranked Kumagai.

In sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 20-ranked Kyokutenzan (0-1), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkh, was crushed down by equally ranked Narimatsu.

Junior sumo wrestlers have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.