TOKYO - For centuries, sumo wrestlers have been fat - real fat - and proud of it. Too fat for sumo?
Star-Bulletin wire services
Chairman points finger
Hawaii’s wayBut after watching the weight of top wrestlers balloon to as much as 600 pounds, officials for Japan's national sport have a word for the wide - slim down.
"They're breathing heavily all the time; some even have trouble walking. They're too fat," Sho Sakaigawa, chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, said yesterday.
The average weight of wrestlers in the sport's top divisions is about 330 pounds.
Because they are so heavy, the competitors are less athletic and more prone to injury, Sakaigawa said.
Konishiki (Salevaa Atisinoe from Hawaii), the heaviest wrestler in sumo history at 605 pounds, was among the injured, although he sat out only four days.
Two other Hawaii-born wrestlers fill out the top three in the weight category - yokozuna Akebono (Chad Rowan) crunches the scales at 515 pounds and ozeki Musashimaru (Fiamalu Penitani) weighs in at 440 pounds.
Chaminade University's drive toward a second Pacific West Conference women's volleyball championship stalled last night at McCabe Gym. Chaminade stunned;
Star-Bulletin staff
Vulcans stay undefeatedWith Latika Chandler and April Hydak each putting down 11 kills, the University of Alaska-Anchorage upset the Silverswords (7-5 overall, 2-1 conference), 15-13, 15-4, 7-15, 15-12.
Doris Bikar and Danielle Robins led Chaminade with 12 kills apiece.
However, the University of Hawaii at Hilo remained undefeated in five PWC matches with a sweep of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, 15-10, 15-9, 15-7, at the UHH Gym.
Meliah Hai-Kelly, with eight kills, and Ginelle Palau, with seven kills, led the Vulcans (10-7 overall, 5-0 conference).
The teams play tonight with the Hilo match starting a 7:15 and the McCabe rematch at 7:30.
HPU FALLS IN OT: At La Mirada, Calif., Amy Shogren's unassisted goal in the 113th minute gave Biola University (7-3-1) a 2-1 double overtime victory over Hawaii Pacific University in a nonconference soccer match yesterday.
Jannicke Snildal had given the Sea Warriors (5-4) a 1-0 lead in the 37 minute. Myrissa Olanda assisted on the HPU goal.
The Sea Warriors, 2-1 on the road trip, conclude their California visit with a match against California Lutheran today.
FUAMATU-MA'AFALA HURT: Utah tailback Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, a St. Louis School grad, sprained his left ankle during Utes' 27-13 loss to Fresno State last night.
Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who rushed for 86 yards on 12 carries, left the game after twisting his foot when he was tackled at the end of a 28-yard run.
The Bulldogs (2-3 ovall, 1-0 Western Athletic Conference) play Hawaii at Aloha Stadium next Saturday night. Utah fell to 3-2, 2-1.
SUCCESSFUL BENEFIT: The recent fund-raising event for cancer patient Donna Collins at Murphy's Bar & Grill raised over $25,000 for the wife of University of Hawaii football player Sam Collins.
Donna requires a bone marrow transplant that costs $100,000 (not covered by health insurance). All proceeds will go to a special fund created to cover her medical expenses.
Murphy's absorbed all costs of the event.
DILLINGHAM TENNIS: The 45th annual Dillingham Grand Prix Tennis Championships starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. with the first of two days of qualifying play at the Punahou School Courts.
Men and women will be competing in singles and doubles for the right to advance to the main draw that runs Discover's Day weekend, Oct. 11-13.
UH SAILORS OPEN: The University of Hawaii coed sailing team begins its fall season tomorrow and Sunday in the Pacific Coast Single-handed Championships at Vallejo, Calif.
Sailing for UH are sophomore Brent Harrill and juniors Terry Mott, Jeff Nelson and Cole Slater.
The team was ranked 16th in the September issue of Sailing World magazine.
BULLSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP: The 47th annual Hawaii El Toro Bullship Championship will be held Sunday on Kaneohe Bay.
The event features races in eight-foot dinghies from the Kaneohe Bay Yacht Club around Coconut Island and back.
The entry fee is $10. Juniors register at 9 a.m. and race at 11 a.m. Seniors register at 11 a.m. and race at 1 p.m. For more information, call 247-4121.
AOKI JOINS FIELD: Isao Aoki, one of Japan's best golfers and with $1,127,000 in winnings on the Senior PGA Tour this year, has entered the Hyatt Regency Maui Kaanapali Classic golf tournament, Oct. 13-19.
Aoki won last week's Emerald Coast Classic.
Also entering is Jim Colbert, who has committed to play the final four official events of the year after undergoing successful prostrate cancer surgery June 23. He needs one more victory to secure a spot in next January's MasterCard Championship.
And, 1994 champion Bob Murphy also will be in the field.
Hospitality sponsorships and pro-am entries can still be purchased. For more information on the Kaanapali Classic, call (808) 667-2234.