Sumo
Musashimaru
grabs share of leadNAGOYA, July 16 (Kyodo) -- Mongolian ozeki hopeful Asashoryu was given a sumo lesson by veteran Takanonami and ozeki Chiyotaikai was blown away by komusubi Tosanoumi on Tuesday as the overnight leaders crashed to their first defeats of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
The losses allowed grand champion Musashimaru to grab a share of the lead at 9-1 as the he manhandled No. 6 maegashira Kotomitsuki for a sixth straight win in the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Musashimaru, unfazed by the strong vocal support for local favorite Kotomitsuki, barely broke sweat as the 231-kilogram yokozuna sent Aichi's pride and joy packing to re-ignite his challenge for a third straight Emperor's Cup.
Asashoryu came out with all guns blazing at the charge but was thrown off balance after an attempted leg trip backfired and allowed seventh-ranked Takanonami (8-2) to bump the fiery sekiwake over the straw ridge and squash him onto the dirt surface.
Asashoryu still needs to win at least two of his five remaining bouts in the 15-day meet to stand a chance of becoming the first Mongolian wrestler to be promoted to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki.
Despite a promising start, Chiyotaikai, runner-up at the New Year meet, was unable to capitalize and put himself one win clear of his nearest rivals after being handed a shock defeat to Tosanoumi (5-5).
The burly ozeki charged out of his crouch like a raging bull, smothering Tosanoumi with a hailstorm of slaps and thrusts only to give the komusubi an opening that allowed Tosanoumi to lunge back and drive the shocked ozeki out for a well-deserved victory.
Further down the rankings, Mongolian maegashira Kyokutenho (6-4) was forced to do the splits on the edge of the ring and limped off to the dressing room after being bundled out by second-ranked Takamisakari (6-4).
Kyokushuzan, already headed south for the autumn tourney in September, put up little resistance in his bout with Aminishiki (3-7) and was quickly sent crashing to his ninth defeat of the meet, completing a miserable day for Mongolia.
NAGOYA, July 16 (Kyodo) -- Results of makuuchi-division bouts Tuesday, the 10th day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (+denotes juryo division wrestler): Results
Won Technique Lost Chiyotenzan 3-7 oshidashi +Senshuyama 4-6 Jumonji 4-6 yorikiri +Iwakiyama 5-5 Tokitsuumi 5-5 hatakikomi +Gojoro 7-3 Hayateumi 4-6 oshidashi Akinoshima 3-7 Wakanoyama 5-5 hikiotoshi Oikari 6-4 Hamanishiki 3-7 shitatehineri Otsukasa 1-9 Tamanoshima 7-3 oshidashi Shimotori 6-4 Toki 6-4 hatakikomi Buyuzan 7-3 Aogiyama 6-4 default Tamakasuga 5-5 Daizen 5-5 yorikiri Takanowaka 4-6 Takamisakari 6-4 shitatenage Kyokutenho 6-4 Aminishiki 3-7 oshidashi Kyokushuzan 1-9 Kaiho 5-5 kirikaeshi Kotonowaka 2-8 Miyabiyama 3-7 uwatenage Tochinonada 5-5 Takanonami 8-2 yoritaoshi Asashoryu 9-1 Wakanosato 8-2 uwatedashinage Hokutoriki 4-6 Tosanoumi 5-5 oshidashi Chiyotaikai 9-1 Musashimaru 9-1 oshidashi Kotomitsuki 4-6
Wednesday's bouts
Hamanishiki x - x +Tochinohana +Gojoro x - x Chiyotenzan +Asanowaka x - x Aogiyama Jumonji 1 - 1 Buyuzan Tokitsuumi 1 - 3 Hayateumi Wakanoyama 1 - 1 Tamanoshima Akinoshima 2 - 7 Daizen Kyokutenho 0 - 1 Oikari Shimotori 0 - 0 Takanonami Toki 2 - 0 Tochisakae Takanowaka 3 - 0 Aminishiki Otsukasa 2 - 3 Kyokushuzan Tochinonada 0 - 0 Takamisakari Kotonowaka 14 - 10 Tosanoumi Miyabiyama 2 - 4 Kotomitsuki Asashoryu 3 - 0 Kaiho Wakanosato 1 - 8 Chiyotaikai Musashimaru 0 - 0 Hokutoriki
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