Associated Press
Kotonishiki , left, bulldozed out Tochiazuma and kept the sole
lead at 10-0 Tuesday, Nov.17, 1998 with five days left in the
15-day Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, western Japan.

Kotonishiki keeps
sole lead at 10-0

FUKUOKA, Japan -- No. 12 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kotonishiki bulldozed out higher-ranked Tochiazuma and kept the sole lead at 10-0 Tuesday with five days left in the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

No. 9 maegashira Tosanoumi stood at 9-1, followed by three wrestlers at 8-2 -- yokozunas (grand champions) Takanohana and Wakanohana and ozeki (champion) Takanonami.

Hawaiian-born ozeki Musashimaru, who ended a three-bout losing streak, stood at 7-3, along with komusubi (junior champion second class) Musoyama.

The 30-year-old Kotonishiki, seeking his second tournament title, held off No. 1 maegashira Tochiazuma's hand thrusts, grabbed his belt and sent him out, leaving Tochiazuma at 6-4.

Tosanoumi sent out No. 1 maegashira Kaio with hand thrusts. Kaio, who defeated two yokozunas and ozeki Takanonami in the first three days, also is at 6-4.

Wakanohana fought off No. 5 maegashira Hamanoshima's driving attempt at the ring edge and threw him out, leaving Hamanoshima at 3-7.

Takanohana, seeking his 21st tournament title and third in a row, charged No. 6 maegashira Wakanosato (5-5) with an arm throw attempt and forced him out.

Takanonami twisted down No. 6 maegashira Tochinonada (4-6) with an arm throw.

Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, sent out No. 4 maegashira Tamakasuga (6-4) with hand thrusts.

Musoyama send out equally ranked komusubi Kotonowaka (5-5).

No. 12 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, twisted down No. 15 maegashira Asanowaka, leaving both wrestlers at 4-6.

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 2 -ranked Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, suffered his sixth defeat against four victories, losing to No. 8-ranked Otsukasa (4-6) by a driving technique.

No. 10-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, was sent out by No. 5-ranked Dewaarashi (6-4) for his fifth defeat against five victories.

In makushita, the top junior division, No. 56-ranked Kyokutenzan (3-2), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, thrust out No. 54-ranked Sakaguchi.

No. 8-ranked Kaishinzan (3-2), or American Henry Armstrong Miller, was pushed out by No. 13-ranked Tochinofuji.

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

Results in Scoreboard

For more sumo information
online, try Sumo Web!