Sumo
Musashimaru to
have wrist surgeryFUKUOKA, Nov. 21 (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Musashimaru, who withdrew from the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament last week, will undergo surgery on his injured left wrist and sit out the New Year meet in January, stablemaster Musashigawa said Thursday.
The surgery will be performed next week at a hospital in Saga Prefecture, where the 31-year-old grand champion is scheduled to stay for two weeks before beginning a rehabilitation process.
"He will have to be out of the next tournament and then we will see if he can recover in time for the March meet," Musashigawa said.
Musashimaru damaged ligaments in his left wrist in the buildup to the ongoing tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center and aggravated the injury during his bout with No. 3 maegashira Tamakasuga on the third day, two days before pulling out.
Ozeki Asashoryu nears title
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) -- Ozeki Asashoryu edged closer to his first title ever after crushing sekiwake Kotomitsuki Thursday to stay atop the standings at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in southern Japan.
With only three matches remaining in the 15-day tournament, Asashoryu, the only Mongolian ever to reach sumo's second-highest rank, led the field with his 11-1 record. He can win the Emperor Cup with another victory as early as Friday.
Eleven wrestlers were tied for second at 8-4, including ozekis Musoyama and Tochiazuma.
At Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Asashoryu grabbed Kotomitsuki and threw him down at the center of the ring, handing the komusubi his seventh loss.
Musoyama beat No. 6 maegashira Tochinonada by shoving the lower-ranked wrestler to the ground. The loss was Tochinonada's sixth.
Tochiazuma, who struggled in earlier bouts and appeared in danger of being demoted to sekiwake, secured his ozeki rank by pushing out No. 5 maegashira Shimotori. Shimotori fell to 6-6.
An ozeki loses his rank if he fails to win a majority of his bouts for two straight tournaments.
In other major bouts, komusubi Kyokutenho was no match for No. 2 maegashira Miyabiyama. The Mongolian put up little resistance in the face of Miyabiyama's lumbering charge. Miyabiyama picked up his sixth win, while Kyokutenho fell to 4-8.
No. 3 maegashira Takanonami and No. 8 maegashira Toki traded jabs before the Toki used his longer reach to yank down the higher-ranked wrestler. Both Takanomi and Toki were 8-4.
Earlier, Mongolian Kyokushuzan pummeled No. 3 maegashira Tamakasuga to go 5-7. Tamakasuga fell to 1-11.
Results
(+ denotes juryo-division wrestler):
Won Technique Lost Aogiyama 4-8 oshitaoshi +Kobo 7-5 Tamarikido 6-6 shitatenage +Otsukasa 8-4 Iwakiyama 8-4 yoritaoshi Dejima 8-4 Kotonowaka 8-4 uwatenage Akinoshima 8-4 Asanowaka 5-7 oshidashi Kaiho 6-6 Aminishiki 8-4 hikiotoshi Buyuzan 3-9 Tokitsuumi 7-5 hikiotoshi Jumonji 6-6 Kotoryu 6-6 oshitaoshi Tochinohana 4-8 Gojoro 4-8 okuridashi Wakanoyama 5-7 Kyokushuzan 5-7 tsukidashi Tamakasuga 1-11 Hokutoriki 5-7 tsukidashi Tamanoshima 3-9 Toki 8-4 hatakikomi Takanonami 8-4 Miyabiyama 6-6 yorikiri Kyokutenho 4-8 Takanowaka 8-4 hatakikomi Tosanoumi 5-7 Wakanosato 6-6 uwatenage Takamisakari 5-7 Musoyama 8-4 sukuinage Tochinonada 6-6 Asashoryu 11-1 uwatenage Kotomitsuki 5-7 Tochiazuma 8-4 oshitaoshi Shimotori 6-6
Friday's bouts
+Chiyotenzan x - x Aogiyama Tamarikido 1 - 0 Jumonji Tochinohana x - x +Takanotsuru Kotonowaka 3 - 0 Aminishiki Toki 6 - 7 Akinoshima Asanowaka 12 - 8 Kotoryu Kyokushuzan 0 - 0 Iwakiyama Kaiho 1 - 2 Gojoro Buyuzan 0 - 3 Tamanoshima Tamakasuga 7 - 3 Wakanoyama Miyabiyama 6 - 0 Tokitsuumi Tochinonada 6 - 10 Tosanoumi Takanonami 9 - 14 Dejima Takamisakari 0 - 2 Takanowaka Kyokutenho 2 - 0 Hokutoriki Shimotori 1 - 0 Kotomitsuki Tochiazuma 16 - 4 Musoyama Asashoryu 4 - 5 Wakanosato
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