Musashimaru suffers second defeat, but keeps solo lead

TOKYO - Hawaii-born Musashimaru suffered his second defeat but kept his solo lead at 9-2, as his closest rival Takanohana also went down for his third upset Wednesday, with four days left in the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

One victory behind ozeki (champion) Musashimaru at 8-3 are yokozunas (grand champions) Takanohana and Hawaii-born Akebono and ozeki Takanonami.

Takanonami, who won the last tournament, could gain promotion to the sumo's highest rank of yokozuna by winning this tournament.

Wrestling before more than 11,000 spectators, ozeki Wakanohana, elder brother of Takanohana, toppled Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, with a leg trick, after they charged each other with arm throws and pushes in the middle of the ring for about two minutes.

A sumo match usually ends in 10 or 15 seconds. Wakanohana is 7-4.

In the day's final bout, sekiwake (junior champion) Tochiazuma charged Takanonana with a series of arm throw attempts and sent him out for his seventh victory against four defeats.

Akebono grabbed No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokushuzan's belt tightly and bulldozed him out. Kyokushuzan, or Batbayar Davaa from Mongolia, fell to 4-7.

Ozeki Takanonami clamped No. 5 maegashira Oginishiki's arms from outside and sent him out, leaving Oginishiki at 5-6.

In other major bouts, No. 14 maegashira Yamato, or George Kalima of Hawaii, charged No. 11 maegashira Kotoinazuma with hand thrusts and thrust him out for his seventh victory against four defeats. Kotoinazuma is 5-6.

No. 15 maegashira Kyokutenho (7-4), or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, toppled down No. 8 maegashira Higonoumi (5-6) with an arm throw.

In Makushita, the top junior division, No. 22-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, slapped down No. 24-ranked Asofuji and No. 44-ranked Hoshiandesu, or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, thrust out No. 47-ranked Narahikari.

Both Hoshitango and Hoshiandesu stand at 5-1.

No. 2-ranked Kaishinzan, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, suffered his fourth defeat against two victories as he was pushed out by No. 6-ranked Suzuki.

In sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 19-ranked Kyokutenzan (2-4), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, sent out No. 22-ranked Koshinoyama.

Wrestlers in the junior divisions have only seven bouts during the tournament.

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Results in Scoreboard

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