Lead shared in
New Year sumo

---

TOKYO, Jan. 24 (Kyodo) - Tochiazuma's brief run as the leader of the pack came to an end Thursday as sekiwake Kotomitsuki pulled the ozeki down to his first loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Kotomitsuki's 10th win of the tourney at Ryogoku Kokugikan kept the sekiwake's own title hopes alive while ozeki Chiyotaikai grabbed a share of the lead with Tochiazuma at 11-1 with a workmanlike win over Tosanoumi.

In the day's main event, Tochiazuma, who has not shaved during his 11 match winning streak, and Kotomitsuki, seeking to end a two-day losing skid, battled for more than a minute to gain the advantage on the belt.

Kotomitsuki (10-2) kept the pressure on Tochiazuma and finally saw his chance to send the newly promoted ozeki sprawling to the ring's sandy surface with a well-timed shove.

"I put out all the energy I had," said Kotomitsuki, who falls in a step behind the co-leaders in his own bid for the Emperor's Cup and possible promotion to ozeki.

Chiyotaikai, meanwhile, who appeared with bandages on both feet after stubbing his toe the ring's surface Wednesday, overpowered No. 7 maegashira Tosanoumi (8-4) with an aggressive series of slaps before finally pulling the taller wrestler face-down on the ring.

Ozeki Musoyama (9-3) charged swiftly against Tochinonada (7-5) and denied the No. 6 maegashira an important eighth win by shoving him easily over the straw ridge.

In other bouts, Mongolian sekiwake Asashoryu (7-5) flipped over ozeki Kaio (8-4) while compatriot komusubi Kyokutenho (4-8) slapped down second-ranked maegashira Tamanoshima (2-10) for an encouraging win.

Top maegashira Kyokushuzan (5-7), a former komusubi himself, threw down current komusubi Wakanosato (6-6) as he battles to avoid relegation for the spring tourney in March.

American maegashira Sentoryu evened his record at 6-6 by slapping down 11th-ranked Tokitsuumi (8-4) in an early bout.

---

Results

---

TOKYO, Jan. 24 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts for Thursday, the 12th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ indicates juryo-division wrestler):

Won		Technique	Lost
+Shimotori	9-3	yorikiri	Wakanoyama	4-8
Sentoryu	6-6	tsukitaoshi	Tokitsuumi	8-4
+Towanoyama	8-4	oshitaoshi	Oikari	5-7
Aminishiki	7-5	hikiotoshi	Hamanishiki	8-4
Tamarikido	3-9	yorikiri	Asanowaka	2-10
Tochisakae	7-5	oshidashi	Tamakasuga	7-5
Kobo	3-9	hikiotoshi	Jumonji	4-8
Buyuzan	8-4	oshidashi	Oginishiki	6-6
Dejima	5-7	oshidashi	Daizen	6-6
Otsukasa	7-5	hatakikomi	Kaiho	3-9
Kotonowaka	6-6	yorikiri	Takanonami	5-7
Toki	4-8	oshitaoshi	Akinoshima	3-9
Kyokushuzan	5-7	uwatenage	Wakanosato	6-6
Kyokutenho	4-8	hatakikomi	Tamanoshima	2-10
Chiyotaikai	11-1	hikiotoshi	Tosanoumi	8-4
Musoyama	9-3	oshidashi	Tochinonada	7-5
Asashoryu	7-5	sukuinage	Kaio	8-4
Kotomitsuki	10-2	oshitaoshi	Tochiazuma	11-1

---

Friday's bouts

+Kitazakura	x	-	x	Jumonji
Wakanoyama	0	-	3	Tochisakae
Aminishiki	1	-	1	Sentoryu
Tokitsuumi	3	-	4	Daizen
Buyuzan	0	-	0	Tamakasuga
Hamanishiki	0	-	1	Otsukasa
Oginishiki	7	-	3	Kotonowaka
Takanowaka	2	-	1	Asanowaka
Tamarikido	0	-	1	Toki
Tamanoshima	0	-	0	Oikari
Kobo	0	-	0	Akinoshima
Kyokushuzan	6	-	6	Kaiho
Dejima	3	-	2	Kyokutenho
Wakanosato	6	-	2	Takanonami
Tochinonada	1	-	1	Asashoryu
Kotomitsuki	1	-	1	Tosanoumi
Chiyotaikai	5	-	10	Musoyama
Kaio	13	-	7	Tochiazuma

---

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