AP Photo/Kyodo Grand champion Akebono, left, charges Chiyotaikai with a
series of hand jabs before sending him out of the ring in Saturday’s
bout at Nagoya, central Japan. Hawaii-born Akebono, improved
to 6-1 in the 15-day Nagoya tournament.

Takanohana holds off
Tochiazuma, keeps Nagoya
sumo lead

NAGOYA, July 13 (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Takanohana beat back the challenge of a pesky Tochiazuma on Monday to notch his ninth straight win and remain the sole, unbeaten leader in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Takanohana, heading into the second week of a basho undefeated for the first time in nearly two years, was surprised by the feisty No. 5 maegashira at the start of their bout at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

Tochiazuma beat the grand champion at the face-off and had him retreating across the ring early in the fight with a low, aggressive charge. The 21-year-old former sekiwake, coming back from a shoulder injury in March, however, could not apply the coup de grace.

The yokozuna and defending champion in Nagoya finally secured a grip on the sash of his upset-minded opponent and walked him for the win.

Meanwhile, fellow grand champion Akebono charged low and hit Shikishima with a rock-solid shoulder block and followed up with a quick shove with his hands to push the helpless No. 3 maegashira out of the ring for his eighth win against one loss.

Ozeki Musashimaru also rebounded from Sunday's upset loss to post his eighth win in the 15-day event by muscling out No. 6 maegashira Hamanoshima.

In an earlier bout, No. 9 maegashira Kotonowaka, wrestling an inspired tourney after a 4-11 outing in May, forced out 12th-ranked maegashira Asanosho for an eighth win to remain among the second-place grapplers.

In other main bouts, newly promoted grand champion Wakanohana resisted Kaio's attempt to wrestle in close, keeping the komusubi at arm's length and shoving him out for his seventh win.

Ozeki Takanonami also notched a seventh win, having little trouble to force out winless No. 4 maegashira Tochinowaka.

In one bout resembling a prize fight more than sumo wrestling, former sekiwake Musoyama prevailed in the extended exchange of roundhouse slaps and thrusts and knocked Chiyotaikai into the ringside seats, tagging the new sekiwake with a third loss.

Mongolia's Kyokushuzan crossed up Asanowaka at the tachiai, slipping to his right, and hooked the canary-banded grappler by the back of belt to whip him to the ring's surface.

Mongolian compatriot Kyokutenho, a 15th-ranked maegashira, was shoved out by Tamakasuga for his seventh loss and is now one loss away from being relegated to the juryo division for the autumn tourney in September.

Results in Scoreboard

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