Musashimaru wins tournament
with 13-2 record

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) - Yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru, who had already clinched the championship, wound up the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo tournament with a 13-2 record when he lost to ozeki (champion) Kaio Sunday.

Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani of Hawaii, won the title the previous day when he toppled his closest rival sekiwake (junior champion) Tochiazuma, handing him his third defeat.

It was the 30-year-old Musashimaru's first victory since the autumn grand sumo tournament in September, 2000, and the ninth in his career.

Wrestling before more than 8,000 spectators at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on the southernmost main island of Kyushu on Sunday, Musashimaru drove Kaio to the ring's edge, but Kaio veered around the ring and sent Musashimaru from behind for his 10th victory against five defeats.

"I wasn't in the best shape at the beginning of the tournament, but i tried my best, improving my condition little by little," said Musashimaru, who received the winning prize of 10 million yen (dlrs 81,000).

Tochiazuma pulled down ozeki Musoyama - after both had exchanged a volley of slaps in mid-ring - and received his seventh technique prize of 2 million yen (dlrs 16,000) for his 12-3 record. Musoyama wound up the tournament at 9-6.

Tochiazuma may be promoted to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki at an executive committee to be held on Wednesday.

The next tournament will be held at Tokyo's Kuramae Kokugikan Sumo arena January 13-27.

In other major bouts, sekiwake Kotomitsuki twisted down komusubi (junior champion second class) Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadri, and finished at 9-6. Asashoryu, however, won his second fighting spirit award of 2 million yen (dlrs 16,000) for his 10-5 record.

No. 5 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, threw down komusubi Kaiho and finished at 8-7. Kaiho ended at 5-10.

No. 1 maegashira Wakanosato charged No. 4 maegashira Tochinonada with a series of arm throw attempts, finally sending him out to receive his third fighting spirit award of 2 million yen (dlrs 16,000) for his 10-5 record. Tochinonada finished at 7-8.

No. 15 maegashira Buyuzan sent out No. 8 maegashira Oginishiki after a flurry of hand thrusts to receive his first fishing spirit award of 2 million yen (dlrs 16,000) for his 10-5 record. Oginishiki finished at 5-10.

No. 9 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, pushed down No. 15 maegashira Tamarikido and wound up the tournament at 10-5. Tamarikido finished at 8-7.

In the 26-member juryo division just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 3-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, pushed out No. 11-ranked Wakatenro and finished at 8-7. Wakatenro ended at 7-8.

No. 8-ranked Kasuganishiki drove out No. 4-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, leaving both wrestlers at 7-8.

KYUSHU SUMO

FUKUOKA, Nov. 25 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Sunday, the final day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):

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

Division winners

Makuuchi - Musashimaru, Musashigawa stable, 13-2
Juryo - Oikari, Isenoumi stable, 11-4
Makushita - Daimanazuru - Asahinoyama stable, 7-0
Sandamme - Kirinofuji, Michinoku stable 7-0
Jonidan - Kokkai, Oitekaze stable 7-0 (winner in playoff)
Jonokuchi - Jiguruma, Musashigawa stable, 7-0
(Note: Wrestlers in sumo's four junior divisions compete in only seven bouts during the tournament.)

Special awards for makuuchi division wrestlers

Outstanding Performance Award - not awarded

Technique Prize - Tochiazuma, Tamanoi stable (7th)

Fighting Spirit Prize - Buyuzan, Musashigawa stable (1st), Asashoryu, Wakamatsu stable (2nd), Wakanosato, Naruto stable (3rd)

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