Musashimaru retains
lead in autumn sumo

TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Musashimaru battled back from the brink of a second straight upset loss Thursday to maintain his lead after the 12th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Musashimaru allowed Chiyotenzan a firm belt grip and was shoved to the ring's edge seconds after the face-off, but held his cool to survive several more scares before finally forcing the six-ranked maegashira to step out of the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Musashimaru (10-2) rebounded from Wednesday's surprise defeat to No. 5 maegashira Minatofuji to become the first wrestler in the 15-day tournament to claim double-digit wins. Chiyotenzan is 5-7.

As other pre-tournament favorites have lost their form or pulled out because of injuries, third-ranked maegashira Akinoshima emerged as the closest challenger to Musashimaru down the stretch.

The surprise title contender from the Futagoyama stable remained one step off the pace after rolling down No. 11 maegashira Wakanoyama (8-4) to the dohyo surface for his ninth victory.

Meanwhile, yokozuna Wakanohana (7-5) was driven out by sekiwake Kaio (8-4) in a matter of seconds for his second straight loss after tearing a muscle in his left thigh Tuesday.

Newly promoted Ozeki Dejima (7-5), winner of the Nagoya tournament in July, was also overwhelmed by fourth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka (6-6) to add to the low-key displays by yokozuna and ozeki.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai managed his eighth win by forcing No. 4 maegashira Shikishima (2-10) out of the ring to remain in contention at 8-4 along with seven others.

Early leader Miyabiyama was handed his fourth straight defeat at the hands of top-ranked maegashira Tochiazuma, who forced the No. 5 maegashira to step out of the ring. Both wrestlers now stand at 8-4.

No. 7 maegashira Takatoriki, No. 12 maegashira Hamanoshima and 14th-ranked maegashira Asanowaka also prevailed in their bouts against fellow rank-and-file grapplers to stand at 8-4.

In an early bout, Mongolia's Kyokutenho (7-5), wrestling as a 12th-ranked maegashira, recorded his first win in four days by dragging down No. 8 Aogiyama (6-6) to the dirt.

Results from 12th day
of autumn sumo

TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Kyodo) -- Results of makuuchi division bouts Thursday, the 12th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):

Won Technique Lost

Hamanoshima 8-4 yorikiri Otsukasa 6-6
Asanowaka 8-4 hatakikomi Kotoryu 7-5
Kaiho 6-6 okuridashi Ohinode 6-6
Kinkaiyama 5-7 yorikiri Ganyu 4-8
Kyokutenho 7-5 hikiotoshi Aogiyama 6-6
Higonoumi 6-6 oshitaoshi Terao 6-6
Wakanosato 5-7 okuridashi Tokitsuumi 4-8
Toki 3-9 hikiotoshi Minatofuji 5-7
Akinoshima 9-3 uwatenage Wakanoyama 8-4
Takatoriki 8-4 oshidashi Kyokushuzan 6-6
Asanosho 5-7 yorikiri Tochinonada 4-8
Tochiazuma 8-4 yorikiri Miyabiyama 8-4
Tamakasuga 6-6 yoritaoshi Musoyama 6-6
Tosanoumi 6-6 oshidashi Kotonishiki 4-8
Chiyotaikai 8-4 okuridashi Shikishima 2-10
Kotonowaka 6-6 yorikiri Dejima 7-5
Musashimaru 10-2 yorikiri Chiyotenzan 5-7
Kaio 8-4 oshidashi Wakanohana 7-5

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Friday's bouts

+Daizen x - x Asanowaka
Kinkaiyama x - x +Oikari
Wakanoyama 0 - 0 Otsukasa
Ohinode 1 - 2 Aogiyama
Tochinonada 0 - 0 Kyokutenho
Takatoriki 7 - 3 Hamanoshima
Kaiho 0 - 2 Wakanosato
Miyabiyama 0 - 1 Kotoryu
Higonoumi 6 - 6 Kotonowaka
Shikishima 0 - 2 Tokitsuumi
Toki 3 - 1 Ganyu
Terao 0 - 3 Tamakasuga
Tochiazuma 7 - 1 Kyokushuzan
Minatofuji 1 - 7 Musoyama
Kotonishiki 4 - 1 Asanosho
Akinoshima 7 - 9 Tosanoumi
Dejima 3 - 0 Chiyotenzan
Chiyotaikai 4 - 3 Wakanohana
Musashimaru 18 - 14 Kaio

Main bouts for 13th day of autumn grand sumo

TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Kyodo) -- Makuuchi division bouts for Friday, the 13th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):

+Daizen x - x Asanowaka
Kinkaiyama x - x +Oikari
Wakanoyama 0 - 0 Otsukasa
Ohinode 1 - 2 Aogiyama
Tochinonada 0 - 0 Kyokutenho
Takatoriki 7 - 3 Hamanoshima
Kaiho 0 - 2 Wakanosato
Miyabiyama 0 - 1 Kotoryu
Higonoumi 6 - 6 Kotonowaka
Shikishima 0 - 2 Tokitsuumi
Toki 3 - 1 Ganyu
Terao 0 - 3 Tamakasuga
Tochiazuma 7 - 1 Kyokushuzan
Minatofuji 1 - 7 Musoyama
Kotonishiki 4 - 1 Asanosho
Akinoshima 7 - 9 Tosanoumi
Dejima 3 - 0 Chiyotenzan
Chiyotaikai 4 - 3 Wakanohana
Musashimaru 18 - 14 Kaio

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Musashimaru keeps
sole lead at 10-2

TOKYO (AP) - Hawaiian-born Musashimaru sent out Chiyotenzan to keep his sole lead at 10-2, while fellow yokozuna (grand champion) Wakanohana suffered his fifth defeat Thursday with three days left in the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo tournament.

One victory behind Musashimaru at 9-3 is No. 3 maegashira (senior wrestler) Akinoshima.

Wrestling at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in downtown Tokyo, Musashimaru resisted No. 6 maegashira Chiyotenzan's arm throw and driving attempts and drove him out, leaving Chiyotenzan at 5-7.

In the day's final bout, sekiwake (junior champion) Kaio shoved out Wakanohana after attacking him with hand thrusts. Kaio is 8-4 and Wakanohana 7-5.

Akinoshima threw down No. 11 maegashira Wakanoyama, handing Wakanoyama his fourth defeat against eight victories.

In other major bouts, ozeki (champion) Chiyotaikai bulldozed out No. 4 maegashira Shikishima with his hand thrust against his foe's throat. Chiyotaikai is 8-4 and Shikishima 2-10.

No. 4 maegashira Kotonowaka grabbed ozeki Dejima's belt and forced him out for his sixth victory against six defeats. Dejima is 7-5.

No. 1 maegashira Tochiazuma fought off No. 5 maegashira Miyabiyama's driving attempt at the ring's edge by turning and then sending him out. Both wrestlers are now at 8-4.

No. 7 maegashira Takatoriki (8-4) charged No. 2 maegashira Kyokushuzan with hand thrusts against his rival's throat and sent him out. Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, fell to 6-6.

No. 12 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, pulled down No. 8 maegashira Aogiyama to improve to 7-5. Aogiyama stands at 6-6.

In the juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 1-ranked Daizen pushed out No. 10-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, leaving both wrestlers at 6-6.

No. 9-ranked Akinoshu threw down No. 10-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, for his ninth victory against three defeats. Sentoryu is 6-6.

In makushita, the top junior division, No. 26-ranked Kuniazuma (4-2), or Brazilian Vander Ramos, was driven out by No. 28-ranked Saigo.

No. 45-ranked Hoshiandesu (3-3), or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, was thrown down by No. 49-ranked Fukuseyama.

No. 53-ranked Asashoyu (5-1), or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, sent out No. 47-ranked Hidanodake.

In sandanme, the second-highest junior division, No. 13-ranked Kasugaoh (3-3), or Kim Son-tek from South Korea, was driven out by No. 9-ranked Kotohikari.

No. 66-ranked Ryuo (2-4), or Wang Yu from Shanghai, China, downed No. 70-ranked Wakasuruga with an arm throw.

No. 85-ranked Kaihakusan (3-3), or South Korean Baeg Yun-gi, clamped No. 84-ranked Tosho's arms from outside and sent him out.

In jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 118-ranked Kotonomori (4-2), or Brazilian Mario Fuchiue, was slapped down by No. 117-ranked Sasakiyama.

No. 160-ranked Ryukizan (4-2), or South Korean Kim Soo-young, also slapped down No. 7-ranked Kirinobori of jonokuchi, the lowest junior division.

Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.

Results of Main Sumo Bouts

TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Thursday, the 12th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena:

Winners Losers

Hamanoshima (8-4) Otsukasa (6-6)
Asanowaka (8-4) Kotoryu (7-5)
Kaiho (6-6) Ohinode (6-6)
Kinkaiyama (5-7) Ganyu (4-8)
Kyokutenho (7-5) Aogiyama (6-6)
Higonoumi (6-6) Terao (6-6)
Wakanosato (5-7) Tokitsuumi (4-8)
Toki (3-9) Minatofuji (5-7)
Akinoshima (9-3) Wakanoyama (8-4)
Takatoriki (8-4) Kyokushuzan (6-6)
Asanosho (5-7) Tochinonada (4-8)
Tochiazuma (8-4) Miyabiyama (8-4)
Tamakasuga (6-6) Musoyama (6-6)
Tosanoumi (6-6) Kotonishiki (4-8)
Chiyotaikai (8-4) Shikishima (2-10)
Kotonowaka (6-6) Dejima (7-5)
Musashimaru (10-2) Chiyotenzan (5-7)
Kaio (8-4) Wakanohana (7-5)

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Juryo Division

Akinoshu (9-3) Sentoryu (6-6)
Daizen (6-6) Hoshitango (6-6)

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Junior Divisions:

Makushita

Saigo Kuniazuma (4-2)
Fukuseyama Hoshiandesu (3-3)
Asashoyu (5-1) Hidakadake

Sandanme

Kotohikari Kasugaoh (3-3)
Ryuo (2-4) Wakasuruga
Kaihakusan (3-3) Tosho

Jonidan

Sasakiyama Kotonomori (4-2)
Ryukizan (4-2) Kirinobori (jonokuchi)

(Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament. Records of foreign wrestlers' opponents were not available.)

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Friday's main bouts:

Daizen (juryo) Asanowaka
Kinkaiyama Oikari (juryo)
Wakanoyama Otsukasa
Ohinode Aogiyama
Tochinonada Kyokutenho
Takatoriki Hamanoshima
Kaiho Wakanosato
Miyabiyama Kotoryu
Higonoumi Kotonowaka
Shikishima Tokitsuumi
Toki Ganyu
Terao Tamakasuga
Tochiazuma Kyokushuzan
Minatofuji Musoyama
Kotonishiki Asanosho
Akinoshima Tosanoumi
Dejima Chiyotenzan
Chiyotaikai Wakanohana
Musashimaru Kaio

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Results in Scoreboard

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