Report: Konishiki offers to resign from JSA TOKYO -- Sumo elder Sanoyama, more popularly known as former ozeki Konishiki, today submitted an offer to resign as a member of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). JSA President Tokitsukaze, however, turned down the request by the Hawaiian-born sumo elder and said he would like to talk to Sanoyama and his mentor Takasago about the resignation offer. ''His offer wasn't formally submitted in written form,'' Tokitsukaze said without giving any details about Sanoyama's move. Sanoyama retired from the ring last November during the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. The first foreign-born wrestler to reach sumo's second highest rank of ozeki, Sanoyama has been popular in his activities outside the sumo world and has made a number of commercials and television appearances.

Takanohana takes
12-1 lead in tourney

TOKYO -- Yokozuna Takanohana took over the sole lead in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament with a win over sekiwake Chiyotaikai today after sibling rival Wakanohana was saddled with his second loss of the tourney.

Takanohana turned away the spirited attack of Chiyotaikai in the final bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, battling back from the edge of the ring to pull the sekiwake down for his 12th win against one loss.

Takanohana, seeking to win the autumn tourney for the fifth straight year, could sew up the title with a win Saturday against ozeki Musashimaru if yokozuna Akebono beats Wakanohana.

Wakanohana, coming into today's bouts tied with his brother, charged with his head down and was easy prey for No. 6 maegashira Tochinonada, who stepped to the left and deflected the yokozuna to the right.

With all of the grand champion's momentum stumbling forward, it was easy work for Tochinonada, 7-6, to chase Wakanohana out of the ring from behind.

With two losses, Wakanohana will need to defeat both Akebono on Saturday and Musashimaru on Sunday to keep his title hopes alive while hoping one of the Hawaiian-born grapplers can saddle his younger brother with a second loss.

Since Wakanohana and Takanohana are both from the Futagoyama stable, they do not square off against each other during the 15-day tourney. They would face each other in a championship playoff if their records are even after Sunday's bouts.

Also today, Akebono wrapped up Aogiyama quickly at the face-off, securing control of the No. 4 maegashira's ''mawashi,'' or sash, and walking him out of the ring for his 10th victory.

Musashimaru pushed out Kyokushuzan, a No. 5 maegashira from Mongolia, for his ninth win while fellow ozeki Takanonami spilled komusubi Musoyama, 6-7, with a belt throw from the left-hand grip for his eighth win.

In other bouts involving top-ranked wrestlers, sekiwake Takatoriki pulled down a lunging Kotoryu, a sixth-ranked maegashira, to avoid what would have been his eighth loss and a subsequent dip in the rankings for November.

Komusubi Dejima overwhelmed Wakanosato at the face-off and bulldozed him out of the ring, also to avoid an eighth loss.

In a battle of top maegashira, Tochiazuma, 6-7, shoved out former ozeki hopeful Kaio, who now faces demotion in November at 5-8.

Results in Scoreboard

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