Musashimaru captures his first
tournament title this year

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) - In a thrilling showdown, yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru toppled a feisty Tochiazuma on Saturday to clinch the title with one day left in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Sekiwake (junior champion) Tochiazuma, who had prevailed in three of their five encounters this year, relied on his quickness to keep the Hawaii wrestler at bay. But Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, lumbered forward and cornered Tochiazuma before grabbing hold and tossing his opponent into the crowd.

With a tournament-leading 13-1 record, Musashimaru captured the trophy for the first time in a year and the ninth time in his sumo career.

"I'm just speechless right now. I'm ecstatic," said a relieved Musashimaru after the bout. "I wasn't feeling well coming into this tournament. But little by little, as the days wore on, I started to feel much better."

Tochiazuma limped off with an injured thigh. Despite the loss and the possibility that he may not return for his final bout on Sunday, Tochiazuma's 11-3 performance was likely to secure him a promotion to the ozeki (champion) ranks.

In the penultimate bout, the ozekis grappled to a nail-biting finish, with hometown favorite Kaio emerging victorious over Musoyama. Both wrestlers ended the day 9-5.

Musoyama had the first chance to put away the match, muscling Kaio to the ring's edge. But Kaio, tottering on one leg, shot out his other leg to trip Musoyama, who crashed onto his back.

Kotomitsuki collected his eighth win. The sekiwake (junior champion) absorbed a head-on charge at the start, then wrapped sixth-ranked maegashira (senior wrestler) Daizen in a bear hug and ushered him out.

Scrappy komusubi (junior champion second class) Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadri, easily forced out No. 2 maegashira Takanowaka. Asashoryu improved to 10-4, while handing Takanowaka his eighth loss.

Among other senior wrestlers, No. 3 maegashira Dejima suffered his eighth defeat to lower-ranked Tamakasuga. Seventh-ranked maegashira Tamakasuga (6-8) sidestepped Dejima, who flopped face-first into the dirt.

In the juryo (junior wrestler) division, third-ranked Oikari wrapped up the title with a 11-3 record. He shoved out No. 14 maegashira Kobo, who fell to (7-7).

Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller - third-ranked juryo (junior wrestler) - beat No. 9 juryo Juzan. Sentoryu and Juzan were both 7-7.

No. 10 juryo Minatofuji defeated No. 4 juryo Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos. Minatofuji improved to 8-6, while Kuniazuma slid to 7-7.

Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Nov. 24 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Saturday, the 14th day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):

Won	Technique	Lost
+Oikari 11-3	oshidashi	Kobo 7-7
Tochisakae 6-8	oshidashi	Takatoriki 7-7
Tamarikido 8-6	uwatenage	Otsukasa 8-6
Wakanoyama 6-8	hatakikomi	Kitazakura 4-10
Oginishiki 5-9	okuridashi	Aogiyama 4-10
Buyuzan 9-5	oshitaoshi	Chiyotenzan 8-6
Kyokushuzan 9-5	oshidashi	Toki 7-7
Akinoshima 7-7	kotenage	Aminishiki 7-7
Kyokutenho 7-7	shitatehineri	Takanonami 9-5
Hamanishiki 6-8	yorikiri	Tokitsuumi 2-12
Tamakasuga 6-8	hatakikomi	Dejima 6-8
Wakanosato 9-5	yorikiri	Kotonowaka 6-8
Tamanoshima 6-8	hikiotoshi	Tosanoumi 4-10
Asashoryu 10-4	tsukidashi	Takanowaka 6-8
Tochinonada 7-7	oshitaoshi	Kaiho 5-9
Kotomitsuki 8-6	oshidashi	Daizen 6-8
Kaio 9-5	uwatenage	Musoyama 9-5
Musashimaru 13-1	yoritaoshi	Tochiazuma 11-3

---

Sunday's bouts

+Jumonji	x - x	Tochisakae
+Takatoriki	x - x	Kitazakura
Takanonami	0 - 0	Kobo
Hamanishiki	1 - 0	Wakanoyama
Kyokushuzan	1 - 0	Tamarikido
Aminishiki	1 - 1	Chiyotenzan
Oginishiki	0 - 0	Buyuzan
Aogiyama	3 - 2	Toki
Otsukasa	1 - 2	Akinoshima
Kotonowaka	13 - 1	Tamakasuga
Tokitsuumi	1 - 2	Tosanoumi
Takanowaka	3 - 3	Dejima
Daizen	0 - 0	Tamanoshima
Wakanosato	5 - 3	Tochinonada
Kyokutenho	4 - 3	Kaiho
Asashoryu	2 - 2	Kotomitsuki
Musoyama	3 - 14	Tochiazuma
Musashimaru	25 - 17	Kaio

---

For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Grand Sumo Home Page
Ozumo
CyberSumo.net
Kyodo News Service