Musashimaru
secures tie for 2nd

NAGOYA, July 22 (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Kaio, who wrapped up his third career title after beating Musashimaru in his penultimate bout on Saturday, fell to Musoyama on Sunday in an anticlimactic final day at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Kaio started the 15-day tourney needing to post eight wins to avoid demotion after pulling out with injury midway through the summer meet but finished with a 13-2 record in an impressive comeback to win the Emperor's Cup at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

With the hardware already on its way the Tomozuna stable, ozeki Musoyama (10-5) ended his clash with Kaio within seconds, driving the champion out of the ring.

In the day's other bouts, yokozuna Musashimaru (12-3) defeated ozeki Chiyotaikai (11-4) to tie for second overall but will take little consolation after falling at the last hurdle for the second successive tournament.

Tamanoshima notched up his 12th win against Wakanosato (9-6) and the No. 7 maegashira won a share of second place and also collected his second Fighting Spirit Award, one of the three special prizes for makuuchi division wrestlers handed out by the Japan Sumo Association.

Sekiwake Tochiazuma (10-5) completed a fine two weeks with a victory over Miyabiyama and also picked up his sixth career Technique Prize while the ozeki fell to a miserable 7-8 and now faces a battle to stay at his rank in the autumn tournament.

Tokitsuumi (11-4) also gained the Technique Prize and the JSA recognized Wakanosato's fine return to the "sanyaku" -- the three ranks below yokozuna -- handing the komusubi his third Outstanding Performance Award.

Elsewhere, komusubi Asashoryu (7-8) fell to No. 4 maegashira Tosanoumi (8-7) to post his first-ever losing record since the Mongolian made his debut in sumo's professional ranks in the 1999 New Year tournament.

In the lower ranks, Kyokushuzan (7-8) went down to Kotoryu (8-7) whilst fellow Mongolian Kyokutenho (8-7) fell to Minatofuji (5-10).

Results

NAGOYA, July 22 (Kyodo) -- Results of makuuchi division bouts Sunday, the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):

Won -- Technique -- Lost

Wakatsutomu 7-8 -- oshidashi -- +Daishi 8-7
Asanowaka 5-10 -- hikiotoshi -- +Takatoriki 9-6
Minatofuji 5-10 -- sukuinage -- Kyokutenho 8-7
Chiyotenzan 5-10 -- default -- Jumonji 4-11
Daizen 8-7 -- oshidashi -- Tochinohana 7-8
Tamakasuga 8-7 -- yorikiri -- Aminishiki 7-8
Tokitsuumi 11-4 -- shitatenage -- Takanowaka 9-6
Kotoryu 8-7 -- okuridashi -- Kyokushuzan 7-8
Toki 6-9 -- hatakikomi -- Oginishiki 9-6
Tochinonada 6-9 -- yorikiri -- Akinoshima 4-11
Kotonowaka 8-7 -- katasukashi -- Kaiho 9-6
Kitazakura 6-9 -- sukuinage -- Takanonami 5-10
Hayateumi 4-11 -- yorikiri -- Higonoumi 3-12
Tamanoshima 12-3 -- uwatenage -- Wakanosato 9-6
Tosanoumi 8-7 -- tsukiotoshi -- Asashoryu 7-8
Kotomitsuki 6-9 -- yorikiri -- Otsukasa 4-11
Tochiazuma 10-5 -- hikiotoshi -- Miyabiyama 7-8
Musoyama 10-5 -- oshidashi -- Kaio 13-2
Musashimaru 12-3 -- oshidashi -- Chiyotaikai 11-4

Juryo Division

Sentoryu (9-6) Ooikari (9-6)

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Division winners

Makuuchi -- Kaio, Tomozuna stable, 13-2
Juryo -- Buyuzan, Musashigawa stable, 9-6 (winner in playoff)
Makushita -- Gojoro, Magaki stable, 7-0
Sandanme -- Kainowaka, Tomozuna stable, 7-0
Jonidan -- Kitamura, Hanaregoma stable 7-0 (winner in playoff)
Jonokuchi -- Murata, Azumazeki stable, 7-0

(Note: Wrestlers in sumo's four junior divisions compete in only seven bouts per tournament.)

Special awards for makuuchi division wrestlers

Outstanding Performance Award -- Wakanosato, Naruto stable (3rd)
Technique Prize -- Tochiazuma, Tamanoi stable (6th)
Tokitsuumi, Tokitsukaze stable (1st)
Fighting Spirit Prize -- Tamanoshima, Kataonami stable (2nd)

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