Sumo
FUKUOKA, Nov. 18 (Kyodo) - Ozeki Asashoryu blasted his way to another quick-fire win on Monday as the Mongolian hot shot toppled No. 4 maegashira Gojoro to remain the unbeaten leader on the ninth day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo tournament. Ozeki Chiyotaikai latest
to pull out of bashoStar-Bulletin wire services
Asashoryu's ninth straight win moved him two clear of closest challengers and three ahead of ozeki rival Musoyama, who slumped to his second straight upset loss -- this time at the hands of top-ranked maegashira Takanonami at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Former ozeki Takanonami sits two wins off the pace along with fellow veteran Akinoshima, who allowed Asashoryu breathing space at the top of the leaderboard after going down to Asanowaka.
In the day's penultimate bout, Asashoryu put on another sumo clinic as he smothered Gojoro (3-6) at the charge and secured a solid two-handed grip on his opponent's belt before flipping him over with a perfectly executed twisting backward knee trip.
Asashoryu's hopes of a first Emperor's Cup were given an extra boost earlier in the day when fellow ozeki Chiyotaikai became the latest wrestler from sumo's senior ranks to withdraw from the 15-day meet due to injury.
Chiyotaikai damaged muscles in his upper right arm in Sunday's win over Tosanoumi and joined yokozuna pair Takanohana (knee) and Musashimaru (wrist) and fellow ozeki Kaio (arm) on the casualty list.
Chiyotaikai lost his scheduled bout by default to third-ranked maegashira Tamakasuga (1-8) and finished the tournament with a 6-3 record.
Musoyama had the chance to boost his record to 7-2 in his bout with Takanonami and stay in touch with the leader, but got tangled up in his opponents attack, twisted around and swung out of the ring with an arm-lock throw.
Ozeki Tochiazuma (5-4) put his disastrous start to the tournament behind him as he overcame sekiwake Wakanosato (3-6) and eased his relegation worries with a fourth straight win.
Tochiazuma, who missed the autumn meet, needs to win at least three of his six remaining bouts to hang on to sumo's second highest rank.
Earlier, makuuchi-division elder statesman Akinoshima (7-2), a 14th-ranked maegashira, saw his surprise winning run come to a halt when he was twisted down by 15th-ranked Asanowaka (4-5) in the day's opening bout in the top flight.
Day 9
(+ indicates juryo-division wrestler):
Won Technique Lost Asanowaka 4-5 tsukiotoshi Akinoshima 7-2 Jumonji 5-4 yorikiri Aogiyama 3-6 Tochinohana 2-7 yoritaoshi Ushiomaru 3-6 Iwakiyama 6-3 yorikiri Wakanoyama 5-4 Kaiho 5-4 okuridashi Buyuzan 3-6 Tokitsuumi 6-3 uwatenage Tamarikido 4-5 Dejima 6-3 oshidashi Kotoryu 3-6 Tochinonada 5-4 yoritaoshi Aminishiki 6-3 Kotonowaka 6-3 shitatenage Shimotori 6-3 Toki 6-3 hikiotoshi Hokutoriki 2-7 Kyokushuzan 3-6 uwatenage Miyabiyama 3-6 Tosanoumi 4-5 tsukiotoshi Tamanoshima 1-8 Kyokutenho 4-5 yorikiri Takanowaka 6-3 Takamisakari 5-4 yorikiri Kotomitsuki 4-5 Takanonami 7-2 kotenage Musoyama 6-3 Asashoryu 9-0 kirikaeshi Gojoro 3-6 Tamakasuga 1-8 default Chiyotaikai 6-3 Tochiazuma 5-4 uwatenage Wakanosato 3-6
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