Musashimaru looking
sharp in practice

NAGOYA -- Musashimaru looked sharp in practice today, ahead of the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament

Musashimaru -- who said Monday he wants to win "at least 11 bouts" in his yokozuna debut -- today sparred with stable-mates Miyabiyama and Wakanoyama, going 12-1 against the two maegashira-ranked wrestlers.

"We're going to give him more and more sparring partners before the start of the (Nagoya) tournament and get him to tighten up his sumo," stable-master Musashigawa said.

On hearing this, the Samoan-born Musashimaru -- renowned for his laid-back approach -- joked, "Well, we'll do it gradually."

Meanwhile, Yokozuna duo Wakanohana and Takanohana worked out today, although concerns remained that nagging injuries could rule the two brothers out of the July 4-18 meet at Nagoya's Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

Wakanohana, who pulled out midway through the summer tourney in May with an injury to his left ankle, came through unscathed after 10 practice bouts against junior Futagoyama stable wrestlers, but said afterward that he is still touch-and-go for the Nagoya tourney.

"I'm just taking it slowly and trying not to force it. I don't know whether I'm going to be fit in time, but my heart hurts more than my ankle," joked Wakanohana, who has yet to win an Emperor's Cup since becoming yokozuna ahead of last year's Nagoya meet.

Takanohana, who sat out the summer tournament in Tokyo with an injured right shoulder, limbered up and went through a light workout but did not take part in any sparring.

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