Musashimaru defeats
rival Takanonami

Yokozuna hopeful Fiamalu Penitani
faces co-leader Wakanosato tomorrow

TOKYO, May 21 (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna hopeful Musashimaru edged another step closer to promotion to sumo’s highest rank Friday with an easy win over fellow ozeki Takanonami on the 13th day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

The Hawaiian-born giant, who defeated Takanonami on the final day of the spring tourney in March, got his right arm around the Futagoyama stable wrestler shortly after the face-off and then shoved him out from behind at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Musashimaru maintained a share of the lead with No. 10 maegashira Wakanosato at 11-2 while Takanonami fell to 9-4, virtually dashing all his chances of winning a third Emperor’s Cup.

Musashimaru, bidding for his fifth Emperor’s Cup and promotion to the rank of yokozuna or grand champion, will face Wakanosato Saturday in a showdown of the leaders.

Wakanosato, for his part, survived a spirited charge by Dejima, 9-4, and then sidestepped the sekiwake at the edge of the ring, swatting him out from behind to remain a surprise co-leader with only two days left in the 15-day meet.

Grand champion Akebono, meanwhile, stayed in contention with an easy victory over Akinoshima after getting both hands on the belt of his opponent and then using his 76-kilogram weight advantage to force out the smaller sekiwake in the day’s final bout.

Akebono, who missed the previous three tournaments due to a lower back injury, improved to 10-3 along with sekiwake Kaio to keep his own championship hopes alive while Akinoshima dropped to 6-7.

Kaio fought off an arm thrust at the face-off by Toki and then shoved him out with one hand controlling the belt and another planted firmly in the face of the towering No. 8 maegashira who suffered his fourth loss against nine wins.

In an earlier bout, No. 4 maegashira Kyokushuzan spun Kotonowaka around after fighting off several thrusts to the neck and then shoved the top maegashira out from behind as the Mongolian wrestler improved to 5-8 while Kotonowaka fell to 2-11.

Kyokutenho, a No. 14 maegashira from Mongolia via the Oshima stable, was pushed out by No. 5 maegashira Tamakasuga, 6-7, and suffered his fourth loss in a row to fall to 7-6.

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Results in Scoreboard

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