AP Photo/Kyodo
Hawaiian-born wrestler Musashimaru, right, throws Tochiazuma
during the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya today.
Musashimaru beat Tochiazuma.

Takanohana one win away
from 19th Emperor’s Cup

NAGOYA, July 17 (Kyodo) -- Some overexuberance by sekiwake Chiyotaikai gave Takanohana the simplest of wins Friday as the yokozuna closed to within one victory of claiming his 19th Emperor's Cup at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Revved up after knocking off newly promoted yokozuna Wakanohana the previous day, Chiyotaikai slipped to one knee at the charge, allowing Takanohana to avenge his big brother's loss without breaking sweat and improve to a perfect 13-0 record with two days left in the 15-day tourney at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

Chiyotaikai, making waves in his first appearance in sumo's prestigious "sanyaku" ranks, dropped to 9-4.

Ozeki Musashimaru kept his slim chances of a come-from-behind championship alive as he improved to 11-2 with a dramatic win over fifth-ranked maegashira Tochiazuma, despite a powwow by the judges to decide which of the wrestlers has stepped out of the ring first.

In a touch-and-go bout, Musashimaru was lucky to get the decision as Tochiazuma tugged him from side to side with a strong belt grip, but the giant Hawaiian managed to maneuver to the edge and then made a pancake of his smaller opponent as they both tumbled into the front row.

Wakanohana, meanwhile, racked up his 10th win with another demonstration of his live-wire brand of sumo as he disposed of No. 9 maegashira Kotonowaka with a lightning move.

Twice attempting to throw Kotonowaka from a right-hand grip, Wakanohana quickly shifted to the left and dragged his opponent down to the dirt, dropping him to an identical 10-3 record.

The day's final bout proved somewhat of an anticlimax as yokozuna Akebono easily shoved out ozeki Takanonami, leaving both well out of the championship hunt at 9-4.

In the day's most explosive bout, top maegashira Takatoriki secured a winning record at 8-5 with a powerful display, leaving seventh-ranked Tosanoumi, 7-6, in a crumpled heap and in need of medical attention in the process.

No. 2 maegashira Musoyama also notched his eighth victory by bulldozing midmaegashira Asahiyutaka, 7-6, while fourth-ranked Dejima boosted his record to 9-4 with a solid win over Tochinonada.

Results in Scoreboard

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