Konishiki retires

He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the sport's elite ozeki level

Kyodo News Service

FUKUOKA, Japan - Former ozeki Konishiki, the first foreign-born wrestler to reach sumo's second-highest rank, will retire from Japan's traditional sport, stablemaster Takasago said yesterday.

The 612-pound Konishiki, formerly of Nanakuli, will retire after the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, which ends Sunday. He will submit his letter of resignation to the Japan Sumo Association and assume the sumo elder's name of Sanoyama.

Konishiki, 33, formerly Salevaa Atisanoe, started his career in July 1982 and thundered through the junior divisions to reach the elite makuuchi division two years later.

The former "Meat Bomb" won three Emperor's Cups, but never satisfied the Yokozuna Deliberation Council's requirements for promotion to grand champion status.

Musashimaru, 12-1, faces difficult finish

FUKUOKA, Japan - If Musashimaru (Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii) is going to defend his title in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, he is going to have to meet and defeat each of the top three wrestlers in the Futagoyama stable on the final three days of the 15-day basho.

Today, the hulking ozeki (champion) successfully overcame his first challenge in the Futagoyama gauntlet, ramming out fellow ozeki Wakanohana for his 12th win against a single loss.

Waiting in the wings for the defending champion are yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana and ozeki Takanonami, who also won handily to share the lead.

Musashimaru, who won in a five-man playoff of 11-4 wrestlers for the Kyushu crown last year, faces Takanonami tomorrow and will close with Takanohana on Sunday.

Former ozeki Konishiki (Salevaa Atisanoe from Hawaii), who decided earlier in the day to hang up his mawashi after more than 15 years on the raised ring, was eased out by Kotonowaka for his eighth loss, ensuring him of a losing record in his final competitive appearance.

Yamato (George Kalima from Hawaii), improved to 5-8 by jamming Asanowaka out of the ring with a series of thrusts.

---

Results in Scoreboard