Takanohana suffers
second upset

OSAKA - Yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana suffered his second upset Monday, the ninth day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

Seven wrestlers, including Takanohana, are now tied for first place with seven wins and two losses. Lower-ranked Chiyotenzan, the only other wrestler who had had one loss, also suffered his second loss Monday.

Ozeki (champion) Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, remained tied for the lead after pushing down sekiwake (junior champion) Kotonowaka (4-5).

Besides Musashimaru, Takanohana and Chiyotenzan, in the lead are ozeki Takanonami, komusubis (junior champion second class) Tochiazuma and Akinoshima and No. 7 maegashira (senior wrestler) Miyabiyama.

Wrestling before 8,000 spectators at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Higonoumi charged Takanohana with a series of hand thrusts and pushed him down for his fourth victory against five defeats.

In other major bouts, Tochiazuma tossed down No. 1 maegashira Kotonishiki (4-5), Takanonami sent out komusubi (junior champion) Kaio (5-4), and Akinoshima defeated No. 5 maegashira Toki (5-4).

Miyabiyama held off Chiyotenzan's driving attempts at the ring's edge four times and twisted him down, leaving both at 7-2.

In the day's final bout, yokozuna Wakanohana dodged No. 4 maegashira Tamakasuga's pushes at the ring's edge and crushed him out to improve his record to 5-4. Tamakasuga is 3-6.

No. 3 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, sidestepped to the left in the initial charge and pushed out newly promoted ozeki Chiyotaikai (3-6) to improve his record to 4-5.

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 1-ranked Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, was sent out by No. 5-ranked Oikari (5-4) for his fifth defeat against four victories.

No. 11-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, suffered his fifth defeat against four victories as he was pushed out by No. 6-ranked Tomonohana (6-3).

In makushita, the top junior division, No. 27-ranked Hoshiandesu (4-1), or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, slapped down No. 22-ranked Kanechika.

In sandanme, the second-highest junior division, No.84-ranked Ryuo (3-2), or Wang Yu from Shanghai, China, was pulled down by No. 88-ranked Higonomine.

Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.

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Results in Scoreboard

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