Musashimaru back
on track with clutch
win at summer sumo

TOKYO -- Musashimaru got his yokozuna bid back on track Monday by blowing out overnight leader Kotonishiki to join a five-way tie for the lead at 7-2 at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Third-ranked maegashira Kotonishiki, who nabbed the Emperor's Cup at the Kyushu meet last November, burst from the blocks with a hard charge but quickly recoiled as Musashimaru squared up and found his range with his trademark thrusting attack.

The giant Hawaiian-born ozeki, chasing back-to-back championships which would give him a shot at promotion to sumo's top rank, clinically finished the job by sending his smaller opponent crashing onto the ringside cushions with a sharp jolt to the chest.

Musashimaru and Kotonishiki left the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan tied for the lead with rank-and-filers Toki, Wakanosato and Kyokutenho with six days remaining in the 15-day tourney.

A day after tipping Musashimaru's yokozuna push off kilter, third-ranked maegashira Chiyotenzan, 4-5, failed to make it a "Hawaiian Double" as he was smothered and bundled out by grand champion Akebono, who improved to 6-3.

Ozeki Takanonami also grabbed his sixth win of the tournament by forcing out second-ranked Miyabiyama, 3-6, who was adjudged to have stepped over the straw bails as he tried to fight a rearguard action.

Meanwhile, sekiwake Dejima hardly broke sweat in boosting his record to 6-3 as he manhandled No. 4 maegashira Kyokushuzan of Mongolia, who slipped to 3-6 with the loss.

Akinoshima improved to 5-4 after wearing down No. 5 maegashira Tochinowaka, 4-5, in a battle of makuuchi division veterans, while Kaio made it a perfect day for the sekiwake trio with a fortuitous win over top maegashira Tosanoumi, 5-4, to finish the day at 6-3.

Tochiazuma triumphed in a one-sided komusubi showdown against out-of-sorts Takatoriki to up his record to 6-3.

Top-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka finally broke his duck by tossing down second-ranked Tochinonada, 2-7, to join Takatoriki at 1-8.

Mongolian 14th-ranked maegashira Kyokutenho received a walkover victory to move to 7-2 after 12th-ranked Ganyu was forced out due to an ankle injury, while eighth-ranked Toki and No. 10 maegashira Wakanosato both looked solid in picking up their seventh wins.

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Results in Scoreboard

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