Wakanohana
stays unbeaten

TOKYO -- Yokozuna Wakanohana survived a scare Wednesday to stay perfect on the fourth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, while out-of-form younger brother Takanohana tumbled to his third loss.

Wakanohana, hoping to avenge his loss to Tosanoumi in the November tourney, was sent heading toward the dirt as the top maegashira jumped to his right at the charge.

But it was Tosanoumi, 1-3, who then got off-balance and eventually toppled backward toward the ring's center as Wakanohana was trying to escape him by circling along the inside of the straw ridge.

Wakanohana remained tied for the lead with sekiwake Chiyotaikai and three lower-ranked maegashira wrestlers with 4-0 records in the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In other main bouts Wednesday, ozeki Musashimaru took full advantage of his power in shoving out No. 3 maegashira Akinoshima to improve his record to 3-1.

Takanohana tumbled to his third loss at the hands of previously winless No. 2 maegashira Tamakasuga, who kept the slow-moving yokozuna at bay and walked him out of the ring.

Kotonishiki, the surprise winner in the Kyushu meet, saw his chances of winning back-to-back Emperor's Cups dwindle with his third loss as ozeki prospect Chiyotaikai stepped to his right to fend off the komusubi's reckless lunge and sent him sprawling.

Fellow ozeki Takanonami rebounded to 2-2 after surviving an initial charge and shoving out No. 1 maegashira Kaio.

No. 12 maegashira duo Oginishiki and Hamanoshima kept their slates clean at 4-0 with convincing victories over lower-ranked maegashira opponents.

Oginishiki toppled winless Asahiyutaka backward at the ring's edge while Hamanoshima hurled down Asanosho, 2-2, to win his opening four bouts for the first time in five years.

Makuuchi rookie Chiyotenzan also stayed unbeaten, dropping 11th-ranked maegashira Mitoizumi to 2-2 with an easy force-out victory.

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Results in Scoreboard

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