Musashimaru still
on yokozuna schedule
at summer sumo

TOKYO -- Ozeki Musashimaru kept his yokozuna bandwagon rolling Thursday with an easy win over komusubi Takatoriki to preserve his unbeaten record on the fifth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Chasing promotion to the sport's top rank after his success at the spring tourney in March, Musashimaru was never in trouble against Takatoriki, 1-4, who took a run-up at the charge but quickly crumpled in a heap under the weight of the giant Hawaiian.

Meanwhile, yokozuna Wakanohana handed upstart No. 2 maegashira Miyabiyama - facing a grand champion for the first time in his short career - a lesson on life in the "major leagues" in the day's final bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Despite nursing a sore left ankle and a thigh injury he picked up in Osaka, Wakanohana had too much guile for Miyabiyama, 1-4, showing good patience as the two wrestlers grappled in the center of the ring before twisting his opponent to the dirt to improve to 3-2.

Fellow yokozuna Akebono continued his revival after starting out with back-to-back losses, but he had to work hard for a force-out win over second-ranked Tochinonada, 1-4, boosting his record in the 15-day meet to 3-2.

Ozeki Takanonami wasted little time registering his fourth win of the tourney as he secured his trademark arm-bar grip on No. 3 maegashira Chiyotenzan, 2-3, and lifted him into the air before dumping him onto the ringside cushions.

Third-ranked Kotonishiki, who started the day at a perfect 4-0, dropped his share of the lead as he allowed No. 5 maegashira Tochinowaka to bundle him out, giving the grizzled veteran his third win.

However, rank-and-filer Toki kept pace with Musashimaru by running out 10th-ranked Kaiho, 2-3, leaving the No. 8 maegashira in a two-way tie for the lead.

Kaio put up little resistance against komusubi Tochiazuma, 2-3, and was bumped out for his second loss, while fellow sekiwake Dejima suffered the same fate as he was bulldozed out by top maegashira Tosanoumi, leaving both wrestlers on 3-2.

Akinoshima was the only one of the sekiwake trio to come through as he improved to 3-2 by muscling out winless top maegashira Kotonowaka in a rematch after the judges had declared their first bout was too close to call.

Meanwhile, Mongolian Kyokushuzan's troubles continued as he was easily shoved out by Aogiyama, 3-2, in a battle of fourth-ranked maegashira and slipped to 1-4.

Kyokutenho, a No. 14 maegashira from Mongolia, muscled out makuuchi division newcomer Yotsukasa, leaving both wrestlers at 3-2.

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Results in Scoreboard

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