Akebono loses another;
joins Musashimaru at 7-3

TOKYO (AP) - Yokozunas (grand champions) Takanohana and Wakanohana remained tied for the lead at 9-1, while Hawaii-born yokozuna Akebono suffered his third upset Tuesday, the 10th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Trailing the leaders were five wrestlers at 7-3 - Akebono, ozeki (champion) Musashimaru, sekiwake (junior champion) Chiyotaikai, No. 15 maegashira (senior wrestler) Toki and No. 16 maegashira Terao.

Wrestling at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in downtown Tokyo, Takanohana, seeking his 20th tournament victory following a triumph in the last tournament, threw down No. 4 maegashira Wakanosato, leaving Wakanosato at 5-5.

Wakanohana slapped down No. 5 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa. Kyokushuzan is 4-6.

Akebono, or Chad Rowan, charged No. 3 maegashira Tamakasuga with fierce hand thrusts and tried to drive him out, but Tamakasuga held off the charge and twisted Akebono down at the ring's edge for the upset victory. The win was Tamakasuga's fourth victory against six defeats.

Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, grabbed ozeki Takanonami's belt tightly and forced him out, leaving Takanonami at 6-4.

In other major bouts, Chiyotaikai threw down No. 2 maegashira Kotonowaka and Terao threw down No. 10 maegashira Higonoumi. Both Kotonowaka and Higonoumi are 5-5.

Toki thrust out No. 12 maegashira Hamanoshima (4-6).

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 13-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, pulled down No. 6-ranked Oohinode (5-5) for his seventh victory against three defeats.

No. 5-ranked Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, was sent out by No. 12-ranked Kitazakura (7-3) for his sixth defeat against four victories.

In makushita, the top junior division, No. 20-ranked Wakaazuma (3-2), or Yoshinobu Kuroda from Brazil, crushed down No. 24-ranked Aminishiki.

No. 49-ranked Yamato (3-2), or American George Kalima, was downed by No. 53-ranked Chiyonosho.

In sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 6-ranked Kyokutenzan (3-2), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, was toppled by No. 10-ranked Isshin.

Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.

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TOKYO, Sept. 22 (Kyodo) - -- Sumo elder Oitekaze, former maegashira wrestler Daishoyama, will leave the Tomozuna stable to create a camp of his own in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, sumo sources said Tuesday.

The establishment of the 52nd stable in Japan's ages-old sport is expected to be approved by the Japan Sumo Association following the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament currently under way at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Results in Scoreboard

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