Wakanohana continues
winning streak,
Musashimaru
suffers third loss

TOKYO -- Yokozuna (grand champion) Wakanohana continued his winning streak at 6-0, while Hawaiian wrestler Musashimaru suffered his third loss on Friday, the sixth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

At the end of the day's bouts, Wakanohana and sekiwake (junior champion) Chiyotaikai remained the only undefeated wrestlers in the tournament.

With 11,000 spectators in the stands, Wakanohana faced a short standoff with komusubi (junior champion) Kotonishiki (1-5), then maneuvered for a better position and drove his opponent out of the ring.

Kotonishiki won the previous tournament with a 14-1 record, becoming the first rank and file wreslter ever to win two tournaments.

Ozeki (champion) Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, was on the verge of driving out No. 2 maegashira Tamakasuga, when he stepped outside the ring himself, losing the bout. Musashimaru is at 3-3 and Tamakasuga 2-4.

In other major bouts, Yokozuna Takanohana downed No. 4 maegashira Minatofuji by grabbing the back of the belt and throwing him out of the ring. Takanohana is at 3-3 and Minatofuji 1-5.

Sekiwake Chiyotaikai slapped out maegashira Kaio, to keep his record perfect at 6-0. Kaio is 2-4.

Komusubi (junior champion) Dejima bulldozed out ozeki Takanonami for his third win against three losses. Takanonami is also at 3-3.

No. 8 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, lost to No. 11-ranked maegashira Mitoizumi (3-3), who lifted him out of the ring. Kyokushuzan dropped to 2-4.

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 9-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, was pushed out of the ring by No. 12-ranked Kobo for his third defeat of the tournament.

No. 6-ranked Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, slapped his No. 2-ranked opponent Asanowaka (3-3) out of the ring, for his fourth win against two losses.

In makushita, the top junior division, No. 14-ranked Kaishinzan (1-2), or Henry Armstrong Miller of the United States, lost to Kotokanyu.

No. 30-ranked Wakaazuma (1-2), or Yoshinobu Kuroda of Brazil, beat No. Tochishimizu.

In the lowest-ranked division of jonoguchi, South Korean wrestler Kim Son Tek (3-0), bested opponent Araki. It is Kim's first tournament.

No. 18-ranked Kuniazuma (3-0), took the win in a bout against Otokoyama.

Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the tournament.

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Results in Scoreboard

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