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Sumo
TOKYO, Jan. 13 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Akebono bumped former ozeki Takanonami out of the ring from behind Thursday to emerge the lone unbeaten leader five days into the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Akebono unbeaten
leader in New YearTakanohana, meanwhile, dumped upset-mind Kotoryu at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo to improve his record to 4-1 and join six other wrestlers one pace behind the front-running Akebono.
In the day's key match-up between undefeated wrestlers, Akebono stopped Takanonami at the initial charge with a hand to the face and then forced the sekiwake to the edge of the ring with a strong left hand clutching at his opponent's throat.
Takanonami attempted to spin away, but Akebono applied the coup de grace with a shove from behind as the sekiwake, needing 10 wins in this tourney to regain ozeki status, was handed his first loss after four straight wins.
In the day's final bout, Takanohana wasted little time against Kotoryu (2-3), who already owns upset wins over yokozuna Musashimaru and ozeki Chiyotaikai, forcefully dumping the top maegashira out of the ring with a strong left arm locked under his opponent's armpit.
Sekiwake Musoyama, also 4-1, shoved out No. 3 maegashira Higonoumi in a one-sided bout to keep alive the Musashigawa stable's hope for a sixth straight tournament championship.
Those hopes have been dimmed with the withdrawal Wednesday of Musashimaru due to a wrist injury and the woeful start by ozeki Dejima.
Earlier, previously unbeaten Tochinonada was dragged down to his first loss by Terao (3-2), who danced away on top of the straw ridge to pull the No. 4 maegashira out of the ring.
Kyokutenho of Mongolia was shoved out for his first loss by Oikari (3-2) after reaching for the head of the fellow 13th-ranked maegashira and leaving himself open to a frontal attack.
The holders of sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki, Chiyotaikai and Dejima, appeared ready to snap out of their slumps with their second wins.
Chiyotaikai shot out of his crouch and bulldozed top maegashira Toki (1-4) out to end a three-match losing streak while Dejima wrapped up Kotonishiki (1-4) and waltzed the No. 3 maegashira out.
Mongolia's No. 6 maegashira Kyokushuzan could not get a handle on feisty Kaiho (3-2) and was backed out by the smaller No. 9 maegashira for his fourth loss in five days.
Main bouts for 6th day of New Year Grand Sumo Tournament
TOKYO, Jan. 13 (Kyodo) - Makuuchi division bouts for Friday, the sixth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ denotes juryo division):Hayateumi x - x Ohinode
Kinkaiyama 0 - 1 Chiyotenzan
Takatoriki 0 - 0 Otsukasa
Kaiho 0 - 1 Takanowaka
Oikari 0 - 1 Minatofuji
Tamakasuga 4 - 0 Kyokutenho
Tokitsuumi 2 - 1 Asanosho
Hamanoshima 4 - 2 Kyokushuzan
Terao 6 - 6 Shikishima
Tochinonada 0 - 1 Wakanoyama
Aogiyama 6 - 6 Akinoshima
Kotonishiki 0 - 1 Miyabiyama
Kaio 6 - 4 Higonoumi
Musoyama 1 - 2 Toki
Takanonami 10 - 5 Tochiazuma
Dejima 2 - 0 Kotoryu
Tosanoumi 3 - 4 Chiyotaikai
Takanohana 7 - 0 Asanowaka
Akebono 22 - 2 Kotonowaka
TOKYO, Jan. 13 (Kyodo) - The Kise stable, one of sumo's smaller stables, will be disbanded at the end of the current New Year tourney with the mandatory retirement of stablemaster Kise, sumo sources said Thursday. Kise stable to fold after
New Year tourneySumo elder Kise, former maegashira wrestler Kiyonomori, 64, will retire in April, but his wrestlers will be transferred to the Kiriyama stable under the guidance of former komusubi Kurosegawa for the spring tourney in March.
The Japan Sumo Association will approve the move at its board of directors meeting after the New Year tournament, leaving the association with 53 stables.
The Kise stable had produced former komusubi Aobayama, but currently has only four wrestlers with the highest ranked wrestlers in the sandanme junior division.
"While it's regrettable that the stable is folding, it's more regrettable that I was not able to make the wrestlers stronger," said Kise, whose real name is Masao Danzaki.
TOKYO (AP) - Hawaii-born yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono sent out sekiwake (junior champion) Takanonami and grabbed the sole lead at 5-0 Thursday, the fifth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo tournament. Akebono grabs sole lead
at 5-0 in New Year sumoOne victory behind Akebono at 4-1 were seven wrestlers including yokozuna Takanohana, Takanonami, sekiwake Musoyama, and No. 12 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokutenho from Mongol.
Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, seeking his 10th tournament victory, charged Takanonamai with hand thrusts and sent him out from behind, leaving Takanonami at 4-1.
Takanonami, who needs to win 10 bouts in this tournament to regain his lost rank of ozeki, fought off Akebono's driving attempt at the ring's edge and tried to twist down Akebono in vain.
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in downtown Tokyo, Takanohana grabbed No. 1 maegashira Kotoryu's belt and threw him down, leaving Kotoryu at 2-3.
In other major bouts, ozeki (champion) Chiyotaikai clashed hard against No. 1 maegashira Toki and sent him out. Chiyotaikai is 2-3 and Toki 1-4.
Ozeki Dejima held off No. 3 maegashira Kotonishiki's driving attempt, charged his foe with an arm throw attempt and drove him out. Dejima is 2-3 and Kotonishiki 1-4.
Musoyama pushed out No. 3 maegashira Higonoumi, leaving Higonoumi at 2-3.
No. 7 maegashira Terao threw down No. 4 maegashira Tochinonada at the ring's edge for his third victory against two defeats. Tochinonada is 4-1.
No. 13 maegashira Oikari charged equally-ranked Kyokutenho with a series hand thrusts and drove him out for his third victory against two defeats. Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, is 4-1.
No. 9 maegashira Kaiho sent out No. 6 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, for his third victory against two defeats. Kyokushuzan is 1-4.
In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 2-ranked Oginishiki remained undefeated at 5-0 by pushing out No. 3-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon. Hoshitango is 2-3.
No. 12-ranked Takamisakari threw down No. 9-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, for his fourth victory against one defeat. Sentoryu is 1-4.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 12-ranked Asashoyu (2-1), or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, downed No. 15-ranked Hisatsuryu with an arm throw.
No. 25-ranked Hoshiandesu (2-1), or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, was sent out by No. 26-ranked Otoryu.
In sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 23-ranked Kyokutenzan (2-1), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, pushed out No. 25-ranked Hokutowaka.
No. 50-ranked Ryuo (2-1), or Wang Yu from Shanghai, China, was downed by No. 55-ranked Chiyohakuho with a leg trick.
In Jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 105-ranked Ryukizan (2-1), or South Korean Kim Soo-young, drove out No. 106-ranked Tatsuyutaka.
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 fifth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena:
Winners Losers
Kinkaiyama (3-2) Daizen (juryo) (1-4)
Oikari (3-2) Kyokutenho (4-1)
Ohinode (1-4) Otsukasa (1-4)
Takanowaka (3-2) Takatoriki (0-5)
Tokitsuumi (4-1) Minatofuji (3-2)
Chiyotenzan (4-1) Tamakasuga (2-3)
Asanosho (3-2) Aogiyama (1-4)
Kaiho (3-2) Kyokushuzan (1-4)
Shikishima (2-3) Hamanoshima (1-4)
Akinoshima (3-2) Wakanoyama (3-2)
Terao (3-2) Tochinonada (4-1)
Tosanoumi (2-3) Asanowaka (0-5)
Musoyama (4-1) Higonoumi (2-3)
Tochiazuma (3-2) Kotonowaka (3-2)
Miyabiyama (3-2) Kaio (3-2)
Chiyotaikai (2-3) Toki (1-4)
Dejima (2-3) Kotonishiki (1-4)
Akebono (5-0) Takanonami (4-1)
Takanohana (4-1) Kotoryu (2-3)
Juryo Division
Takamisakari (4-1) Sentoryu (1-4)
Oginishiki (5-0) Hoshitango (2-3)
Junior Divisions:
Makushita
Asashoyu (2-1) Hisatsuryu
Otoryu Hoshiandesu (2-1)Sandanme
Kyokutenzan (2-1) Hokutowaka
Chiyohakuho Ryuo (2-1)Jonidan Ryukizan (2-1) Tatsuyutaka
(Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament. Records of foreign wrestlers' opponents were not available.)
Friday's main bouts:
Hayateumi (juryo) Ohinode
Kinkaiyama Chiyotenzan
Takatoriki Otsukasa
Kaiho Takanowaka
Oikari Minatofuji
Tamakasuga Kyokutenho
Tokitsuumi Asanosho
Hamanoshima Kyokushuzan
Terao Shikishima
Tochinonada Wakanoyama
Aogiyama Akinoshima
Kotonishiki Miyabiyama
Kaio Higonoumi
Musoyama Toki
Takanonami Tochiazuma
Dejima Kotoryu
Tosanoumi Chiyotaikai
Takanohana Asanowaka
Akebono Kotonowaka
Results in Scoreboard
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Ozumo
Kyodo News Service