Kotomitsuki marches on
at New Year sumo

TOKYO (AP) - Making his case for promotion to ozeki, Kotomitsuki posted a solid victory over Kyokushuzan on Saturday to remain undefeated and tied for the lead after the seventh day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

After a prolonged standoff, sekiwake (junior champion) Kotomitsuki took the initiative and forced Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayer Davaa, to the edge where the top maegashira lost his balance and dropped to a record of 1-6.

Kotomitsuki, who will need double-digit wins in the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to be considered for promotion, shares the lead at 7-0 with the ozeki (champion) duo of Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai.

Tochiazuma looked sharp in a textbook win over Tamanoshima when he came in low at the face off, got his arms around the No. 2 maegashira and calmly shoved him out over the straw ridge. Tamanoshima fell to 1-6.

Chiyotaikai, who needs a winning record here to avoid demotion, wasted little time in driving out komusubi (junior champion second class) Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, in the day's final bout.

All three Mongolian wrestlers have struggled in the New Year tourney. With his loss to Chiyotaikai, Kyokutenho fell to 1-6. Meanwhile sekiwake Asashoryu, or Dolgorsvren Dagvadri, was shoved out by No. 3 maegashira Takanonami (5-2) to suffer his fourth loss.

Ozeki Musoyama, coming off an upset defeat at the hands of Tamanoshima on Friday, got back on the winning track and improved to 4-3 with a convincing win over third-ranked maegashira Kaiho (2-5).

Ozeki Kaio improved to 5-2 after shoving out No. 2 maegashira Toki, who fell to 2-5.

Further down the ranks, Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, was shoved out by No. 11 maegashira Oikari (3-4) to drop to 3-4 while in the juryo division Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, was forced out by Shimotori (5-2) and now stands at 4-3.

RESULTS OF MAIN SUMO BOUTS

TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Saturday, the seventh day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena:

WINNERS	LOSERS
Jumonji (3-4)	Towanoyama (juryo) (5-2)
Oikari (3-4)	Sentoryu (3-4)
Tokitsuumi (4-3)	Wakanoyama (3-4)
Oginishiki (4-3)	Kobo (1-6)
Daizen (3-4)	Asanowaka (1-6)
Buyuzan (5-2)	Tochisakae (5-2)
Hamanishiki (6-1)	Tosanoumi (5-2)
Aminishiki (4-3)	Tochinonada (5-2)
Kotonowaka (2-5)	Tamarikido (2-5)
Tamakasuga (5-2)	Dejima (3-4)
Otsukasa (3-4)	Chiyotenzan (3-4)
Wakanosato (5-2)	Akinoshima (1-6)
Takanonami (5-2)	Asashoryu (3-4)
Kotomitsuki (7-0)	Kyokushuzan (1-6)
Musoyama (4-3)	Kaiho (2-5)
Kaio (5-2)	Toki (2-5)
Tochiazuma (7-0)	Tamanoshima (1-6)
Chiyotaikai (7-0)	Kyokutenho (1-6)

JURYO DIVISION

Shimotori (5-2)

Kuniazuma (4-3)

SUNDAY'S MAIN BOUTS

Sentoryu	Takatoriki (juryo)
Tochisakae	Hamanishiki
Tokitsuumi	Jumonji
Wakanoyama	Oikari
Aminishiki	Asanowaka
Oginishiki	Tamarikido
Kobo	Daizen
Tosanoumi	Buyuzan
Tochinonada	Tamakasuga
Otsukasa	Kotonowaka
Kyokushuzan	Toki
Tamanoshima	Akinoshima
Kotomitsuki	Chiyotenzan
Kyokutenho	Asashoryu
Chiyotaikai	Dejima
Takanonami	Musoyama
Kaio	Kaiho
Wakanosato	Tochiazuma

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