Musashimaru tied
for lead; Akebono falls

TOKYO - Yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono was upended by No. 1 maegashira (senior wrestler) Dejima today, falling to 7-2 in the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo tournament.

The result left a three-way tie for first place among Yokozuna Takanohana and ozekis (champions) Musashimaru and Wakanohana, all with eight victories and one defeat.

Wrestling at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, charged Dejima with hand thrusts against his foe's throat and bulldozed him to the ring's edge.

But as Dejima slipped out of the ring, he slapped down Akebono. Since both wrestlers fell to the dirt at almost the same time, a referee called Akebono the winner, but five judges consulted and reversed the ruling, saying that Akebono hit the dirt slightly ahead of Dejima.

Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, grabbed Konishiki, or Salevaa Atisanoe from Hawaii, by his belt tightly and forced him out.

Konishiki is 0-5 with four absences, having returned to action after pulling out last Wednesday because of inflammation in both feet and his left calf.

Yamato, or George Kalima from Hawaii, leads the juryo division with an 8-1 record after charging Mainoumi with a series of hand thrusts, grabbing his foe's belt and throwing him down.

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Results in Scoreboard