Sumo
NAGOYA, July 7 (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Akebono flattened komusubi Tosanoumi in a showdown of unbeaten wrestlers Wednesday to move into a two-way share of the lead on the fourth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Akebono rolls into 2-way
tie for lead at Nagoya sumoChasing his first Emperor's Cup since May 1997, Akebono went straight for the jugular, almost bending his opponent over backwards before leaving him in a crumpled heap with a two-handed shove in the final bout of the day at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
The Hawaiian-born giant is joined at the top of the leaderboard by 13th-ranked maegashira Wakanoyama, who tagged 14th-ranked Ganyu with his third loss in a scrappy bout.
Newly promoted yokozuna Musashimaru survived a scare against winless Wakanosato, fighting back from the edge of the ring to barge out the No. 2 maegashira and improve his record to 3-1 in the 15-day meet.
Yokozuna Takanohana continued to impress in his comeback from injury, recording his third win by flipping down second-ranked maegashira Toki, 0-4, who came out with a furious thrusting attack but failed to get the 20-time Emperor's Cup winner to back up an inch.
Chiyotaikai boosted his record to 3-1 as he blasted out No. 3 maegashira Higonoumi, 1-3, while fellow ozeki Takanonami huffed and puffed but eventually twisted out fourth-ranked Miyabiyama, 1-3, to notch his third win of the tourney.
Meanwhile, sekiwake Kaio kept his ozeki promotion hopes alive by squashing winless komusubi Chiyotenzan to even his record at 2-2.
Dejima was knocked from the unbeaten ranks by No. 1 maegashira Kotonishiki, 2-2, but fellow sekiwake had an easier time of it, running out top-ranked maegashira Akinoshima, 1-3, to move to 3-1.
Meanwhile, Mongolian duo Kyokushuzan, fighting as a No. 7 maegashira, and 10th-ranked Kyokutenho both won to finish the day with identical 3-1 records.
NAGOYA, Japan (AP) -- Hawaii-born yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono and lower-ranked Wakanoyama remained undefeated at 4-0 on Wednesday, sharing the lead of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo tournament. Akebono, Wakanoyama
remain undefeatedMusashimaru, also known as Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, scored his third victory against one defeat, along with his fellow yokozuna Takanohana, ozekis (champions) Chiyotaikai and Takanonami and eight other wrestlers, including two from Mongolia -- No. 7 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokushuzan and No. 10 maegashira Kyokutenho.
Wrestling at Aiichi Prefectural gymnasium, Akebono, or Chad Rowan, charged komusubi (junior champion second class) Tosanoumi with a series of had thrusts against his opponent's throat and sent him out, leaving Tosanoumi at 3-1.
No. 13 maegashira Wakanoyama drove out No. 14 maegashira Ganyu, handing Ganyu his third defeat against one victory.
Musashimaru crushed winless No. 2 maegashira Wakanosato after fighting off his opponent's initial charge at the ring's edge.
Takanohana fended off winless No. 2 maegashira Toki's hand thrusts and threw him down.
Chiyotaikai charged No. 3 maegashira Higonoumi with hand thrusts and sent him out, and his fellow ozeki Takanonami clamped No. 4 maegashira Miyabiyama's arms from the outside and drove him out. Both Higonoumi and Miyabiyama are 1-3.
In other major bouts, Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, threw down No. 6 maegashira Tamakasuga, leaving Tamakasuga at 2-2.
Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, sent out No. 8 maegashira Asanosho from behind. Asanosho is 3-1.
In juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 8-ranked Tomonohana pushed out No. 11-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, leaving both wrestlers at 2-2.
No. 8-ranked Wakahayato sent out No. 11-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, leaving both wrestlers at 1-3.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 11-ranked Wakaazuma (2-0), or Yoshinobu Kuroda from Brazil, thrust down No. 12-ranked Toyozakura.
No. 39-ranked Hoshiandesu (2-0), or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, drove out No. 40-ranked Yoshiazuma.
No. 53-ranked Kuniazuma (2-0), or Brazilian Vander Ramos, drove out No. 51-ranked Raikoo.
In sandanme, the second-highest junior division, No. 27-ranked Kasugaoh (1-1), or Kim Son-tek from South Korea, was pulled down by No. 28-ranked Tanimura.
No. 51-ranked Ryuo (2-0), or Wang Yu from Shanghai, China, slapped down No. 50-ranked Isonoumi.
No. 75-ranked Asashoryu (1-0), or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, threw down No. 77-ranked Tamaoh.
In jonidan, the third-highest junior division, No. 146-ranked Kotonomori (1-1), or Brazilian Mario Fuchiue, sent No. 147-ranked Yasuda from behind.
In jonokuchi, the lowest junior division, No. 48-ranked Ryukizan (1-1), or South Korean Kim Soo-young, toppled No. 46-ranked Kurita with an arm throw.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.
Results in Scoreboard
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