Akebono, Musashimaru
unbeaten; Takanohana toppled

TOKYO -- Takanohana, seeking his 18th tournament title, suffered his first defeat today while fellow grand champion Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, stayed undefeated after the third day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Akebono and Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, were among five wrestlers at 3-0.

Another of the five, Dejima, bulldozed Takanohana to the ring's edge and crushed him down.

Akebono won by default when his scheduled opponent, Musoyama, withdrew from the tournament because of a left calf muscle injury suffered in training.

Musashimaru sent out Ganyu with hand thrusts.

Konishiki, or Salevaa Atisanoe from Hawaii, was thrown down by Kaio and dropped to 0-3.

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, Yamato, or George Kalima from Hawaii, sent out Daishi with hand thrusts for his third victory against no defeats.

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Monday, September 8, 1997

Akebono, Takanohana
2-0 in Tokyo

TOKYO-- Yokozuna (grand champions) Akebono and Takanohana both improved their records to 2-0 today in the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, bulldozed out komusubi Kaio and Takanohana forced out Ganyu.

Ozeki (champion) Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, also won his second straight bout, pushing out Aogiyama.

Konishiki, or Salevaa Atisanoe from Hawaii, dropped to 0-2 when he was slapped down by Tosanoumi.

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, ranked Yamato, or George Kalima from Hawaii, went to 2-0 by toppling Asahisato.

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Results in Scoreboard