OSAKA, Japan (AP) - Ozeki (champion) Wakanohana improved his record to 12-0 today and moved to within one victory of clinching his fourth major title, with three days left in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Wakanohana alone at 12-0
On Friday, Wakanohana meets Hawaiian-born yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono, his closest rival at 10-2. If he wins, he will clinch the championship.
The only other wrestler with any chance is No. 7 maegashira (senior wrester) Aogiyama. At 9-3 now, he could reach a playoff for the title only if he wins all three remaining matches - and Wakanohana loses three times and Akebono loses once more.
In Thursday's match, Wakanohana kept his balance while Kyokushuzan sidestepped, and then sent his foe out with a series of hand thrusts.
No. 7 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, is 4-8. Because of his losing record, he may face demotion before the next tournament in May.
Akebono, or Chad Rowan, sent out No. 5 maegashira Tochinowaka (4-8) with hand thrusts.
Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, improved to 8-4. He also used hand thrusts to send out fellow ozeki Takanonami (7-5).
Aogiyama drove out No. 14 maegashira Higonoumi (8-4).
Sekiwake (junior champion) Musoyama forced out No. 5 maegashira Kotoryu (3-9) for his eighth victory against four defeats.
No. 12 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, was forced out by No. 13 maegashira Gojoro (7-5) for his eighth defeat against four victories. Kyokutenho also may face demotion for the next tournament.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 9-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, slapped down No. 11-ranked Tomikaze for his fourth victory against two defeats.
No. 20-ranked Hoshiandesu, or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, thrust out No. 27-ranked Wakakaze and also was 4-2.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the15-day tournament.
OSAKA, March 19 (Kyodo) - With the prospects of capturing his fourth Emperor's Cup becoming brighter by the day, ozeki Wakanohana continued his impressive run Thursday at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament with an easy victory over Kyokushuzan. Akebono, Wakanohana
to meet tomorrowWakanohana improved to a perfect 12-0 when he forced the No. 7 maegashira out of the ring with a series of powerful arm thrusts.
Kyokushuzan leapt to his left at the face-off and attempted to dispose of Wakanohana with an arm throw. Wakanohana, however, read him well, spun him around and pushed Kyokushuzan out from behind to send the capacity crowd at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium into a frenzy.
Kyokushuzan sank to 4-8, guaranteeing an overall losing record and automatic demotion of rank for the May tourney in Tokyo.
Wakanohana, who will face rival Akebono on Friday, can wrap up the title before Sunday's final matches with a victory over the Hawaiian-born yokozuna. Akebono, currently 10-2, holds a slim 16-15 edge over Wakanohana in 31 career bouts.
Akebono stayed in the hunt for his 10th Emperor's Cup with a convincing victory over No. 5 maegashira Tochinowaka.
In the final bout of the day, Akebono used a series of arm thrusts to the throat of Tochinowaka to send his opponent straight out of the ring in a matter of seconds.
No. 7 maegashira Aogiyama improved to 9-3 and took sole possession of third place with a win over Higonoumi, ending the No. 14 maegashira's four-bout winning streak.
Aogiyama established control early in the bout with a series of arm thrusts and shoved the No. 14 maegashira out of the ring with relative ease. Higonoumi fell to 8-4.
In a battle of struggling ozeki, Musashimaru assured himself of a winning record for the 39th straight time in his makuuchi division career, when he used a right arm to bulldoze Takanonami out of the ring and improve to a record of 8-4.
Takanonami fell to 7-5.
Mongolia's No. 12 maegashira Kyokutenho suffered his eighth loss of the tournament against No. 13 maegashira Gojoro, ensuring automatic demotion of rank for the May meet.
With both grapplers fighting at the edge of the ring, Kyokutenho stepped out with his right foot in attempting an arm throw.