Takanohana retains lead

TOKYO -- Yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana beat sekiwake (junior champion) Tosanoumi in a fierce battle today and kept the lead at 11-1 in the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Yokozuna Akebono stayed one victory behind at 10-2. Ozekis (champions) Musashimaru and Takanonami and No. 5 maegashira (senior wrestler) Oginishiki followed at 9-3.

Takanohana and Tosanoumi (8-4) battled for 45 seconds before Takanohana crushed his foe out. A sumo bout usually ends in 10 or 15 seconds.

Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, wasn't fooled by the early sidestepping of No. 2 maegashira Akinoshima (5-7). Akebono grabbed his belt and easily drove him out.

Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, grabbed No. 4 maegashira Kyokushuzan's belt and sent him out. Kyokushuzan, or Batbayar Davaa from Mongolia, is 2-10.

Konishiki, or Salevaa Atisanoe from Hawaii, was sent out by Kotoinazuma and dropped to 7-5.

Yamato, or George Kalima from Hawaii fell to 5-7 after being driven out by Kotonowaka.