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Sumo
OSAKA, March 25 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Akebono turned the tables on nemesis Takatoriki on Saturday, denying the No. 14 maegashira a chance to win his first-ever Emperor's Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Akebono denies
Takatoriki spring titleAkebono's one-sided victory at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium saddled Takatoriki with his second loss of the 15-day tourney and left open the possibility of a five-way playoff for the championship Sunday.
Takatoriki, 32, wrestling at the makuuchi division's lowest rank, can still claim the first-ever Emperor's Cup of his 17-year sumo career with a win over up-and-coming Miyabiyama on Sunday.
A loss, however, will leave the former sekiwake to scramble in a playoff with, at least, Miyabiyama and the winner of the Akebono-Takanohana grand champion finale.
Yokozuna Musashimaru and sekiwake Musoyama, each at 11-3, also have chances to make the playoff with wins Sunday and extend the Musashigawa stable's current string of championships to seven.
In Saturday's featured bout, Hawaiian-born Akebono (11-3) wasted little time against the wrestler who had spoiled a number of the yokozuna's own runs for the Emperor's Cup, erupting out of his crouch and knocking Takatoriki (12-2) out of the ring.
Musashimaru (11-3), the defending champion in Osaka, had a chance to pull even for the lead with a win over Takanohana (11-3) and had the rival grand champion dug in against the straw in the day's final bout.
He got over-extended trying to drive his opponent out, however, and slipped to the ring's surface as Takanohana escaped to the right.
Musoyama, meanwhile, pushed No. 6 maegashira Tochinonada (8-6) down from behind to keep alive his championship hopes while virtually assuring the New Year tournament winner promotion to ozeki.
The Musashigawa stable's second sekiwake, Miyabiyama, threw down fifth-ranked Chiyotenzan (4-10) for his 11th win, prompting sumo commentators to begin talking about possible ozeki promotion for the sumo phenom after the summer tourney in May.
The stable's current ozeki Dejima shoved No. 7 maegashira Toki (6-8) out of the ring for his 10th win.
In an all-ozeki encounter, Takanonami pushed out Chiyotaikai, leaving both wrestlers with unseemly records of 7-7 for sumo's second-highest rank.
Mongolia's Kyokushuzan (5-9) and Kyokutenho (3-11) were both caught flat-footed at the charge of their bouts and walked out by komusubi wrestlers Tosanoumi (8-6) and Kaio (7-7).
OSAKA, March 25 (Kyodo) -- Former sekiwake Mitoizumi pulled out of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday after he injured his left hip in a tumble off the ring the day before at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Mitoizumi pulls out of spring sumo
Mitoizumi, wrestling in the second-tier juryo division, hit hard on his left rump falling off the ring with Oikari and had to be assisted from the arena.
Doctors at an Osaka hospital said that they suspect that the 173-kilogram wrestler may have ruptured a tendon or muscle in his buttocks, requiring three months to heal fully.
The 37-year-old Takasago stable wrestler spent the night at the hospital and decided Saturday morning to pull out the final two days of the 15-day tourney. Mitoizumi's opponent, Wakanojo, will win by default.
The Japan Sumo Association ruled that Mitoizumi's injury was suffered in the line of duty, meaning that he will not be demoted further even if he misses the entire summer tourney in May.
Mitoizumi will finish the spring tournament with five wins and nine losses, with a one-day absence, and will take a dip in the rankings for the summer meet.
Results on 14th day of Spring Grand Sumo Tournament
OSAKA, March 25 (Kyodo) -- Results of makuuchi division bouts Saturday, the 14th day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (+ indicates juryo division wrestler):Won Technique Lost
Terao 7-7 okuridashi +Jumonji 9-5
+Tochinohana 12-2 yorikiri Daizen 8-6
+Kinkaiyama 10-4 yoritaoshi Oikari 5-9
Kaiho 7-7 tsukiotoshi Hayateumi 6-8
Oginishiki 8-6 kirikaeshi Hamanoshima 8-6
Tokitsuumi 7-7 hatakikomi Asanowaka 7-7
Asanosho 6-8 hatakikomi Akinoshima 5-9
Kotoryu 5-9 uwatenage Takanowaka 4-10
Wakanoyama 5-9 tsukiotoshi Shikishima 4-10
Tosanoumi 8-6 oshidashi Kyokushuzan 5-9
Kaio 7-7 yorikiri Kyokutenho 3-11
Musoyama 11-3 okuritaoshi Tochinonada 8-6
Tochiazuma 8-6 hatakikomi Tamakasuga 5-9
Miyabiyama 11-3 sukuinage Chiyotenzan 4-10
Dejima 10-4 oshidashi Toki 6-8
Takanonami 7-7 oshidashi Chiyotaikai 7-7
Akebono 11-3 yorikiri Takatoriki 12-2
Takanohana 11-3 sukuinage Musashimaru 11-3
Main bouts for final day of Spring Grand Sumo Tournament
OSAKA, March 25 (Kyodo) -- Makuuchi division bouts for Sunday, the final day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):Terao 2 - 5 Kaiho
Oikari x - x +Tochinohana
Asanosho 1 - 0 Daizen
Toki 3 - 1 Shikishima
Oginishiki 0 - 2 Chiyotenzan
Hamanoshima 0 - 1 Takanowaka
Kotoryu 6 - 9 Asanowaka
Akinoshima 0 - 0 Kyokutenho
Hayateumi 0 - 0 Kyokushuzan
Wakanoyama 1 - 3 Tokitsuumi
Tamakasuga 4 - 6 Kaio
Tosanoumi 4 - 2 Tochinonada
Takatoriki 1 - 2 Miyabiyama
Musoyama 2 - 8 Tochiazuma
Dejima 7 - 6 Takanonami
Musashimaru 5 - 5 Chiyotaikai
Takanohana 20 - 19 Akebono
OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- Yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono defeated underdog leader Takatoriki and denied him a chance to clinch the title on Saturday, the penultimate day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Akebono beats Takatoriki
at Spring Grand SumoTakatoriki, the 14th and lowest ranked maegashira (senior wrestler) slipped to 12-2. Hawaii-born Akebono, fellow yokozunas Takanohana and Musashimaru and lower-ranked Musoyama and Miyabiyama were a step behind at 11-3.
Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, charged hard at the lighter Takatoriki and easily pushed him out.
Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani of Hawaii, pushed Takanohana to the ring's edge but ended up falling to the dirt after his rival fought back to the center of the ring.
Sekiwake (junior champion) Musoyama, who is seeking promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki (champion), flipped over No. 6-ranked maegashira Tochinonada (8-6).
In other major bouts, komusubi (junior champion second class) Kaio shoved out No. 2-ranked maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav. Kaio improved to 7-7, while Kyokutenho dropped to 3-11.
Komusubi Tosanoumi easily pushed out No. 1 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, for his eighth win against six defeats. Kyokushuzan slumped to 5-9.
In juryo, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 7-ranked Hoshitango (5-9), or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, was pushed out by No. 8 Aminishiki (8-6).
No. 11-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, slapped down top-ranked Kotomitsuki to leave both wrestlers at 12-2.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 19-ranked Asashoyu, or Mongolian Dogorsvren Dagvadrj, defeated No. 13-ranked Haruyama, while No. 12-ranked Hoshiandesu, or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, pushed down No. 17-ranked Takamihana.
In jonokuchi, the lowest junior division, No. 35-ranked Hakuba, or Mongolian Ariunbayar Unurjargal, pushed out No. 30-ranked Saito.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.
Results of main sumo bouts
OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- Results of main bouts Saturday, the 14th day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectual Gymnasium:Winners Losers
Terao (7-7) Jumonji (juryo)(9-5)
Tochinohana (juryo) (12-2) Daizen (8-6)
Kinkaiyama (juryo) (10-4) Oikari (5-9)
Kaiho (8-7) Hayateumi (6-8)
Oginishiki (8-6) Hamanoshima (8-6)
Tokitsuumi (7-7) Asanowaka (7-7)
Asanosho (6-8) Akinoshima (5-9)
Kotoryu (5-9) Takanowaka (4-10)
Wakanoyama (5-9) Shikishima (4-10)
Tosanoumi(8-6) Kyokushuzan (5-9)
Kaio (7-7) Kyokutenho (3-11)
Musoyama (11-3) Tochinonada (8-6)
Tochiazuma (8-6) Tamakasuga (5-9)
Miyabiyama (11-3) Chiyotenzan (5-9)
Dejima (10-4) Toki (6-8)
Takanonami (7-7) Chiyotaikai(7-7)
Akebono (11-3) Takatoriki (12-2)
Takanohana (11-3) Musashimaru (11-3)
Juryo Division
Aminishiki (8-6) Hoshitango (5-9)
Sentoryu (12-2) Kotomitsuki (12-2)
Junior Divisions:
Makushita
Asashoyu (5-2) Haruyama
Hoshiandesu (5-2) Takamihana
Sandanme
Yotsuguruma Ryuo (2-5)
Yamauchi Kasugaoh (5-2)
Jonokuchi
Hakuba (4-3) Saito(Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament. Records of foreign wrestlers' opponents were not available.)
Sunday's Main Bouts:
Terao Kaiho
Oikari Tochinohana
Asanosho Daizen
Toki Shikishima
Oginishiki Chiyotenzan
Hamanoshima Takanowaka
Kotoryu Asanowaka
Akinoshima Kyokutenho
Hayateumi Kyokushuzan
Wakanoyama Tokitsuumi
Tamakasuga Kaio
Tosanoumi Tochinonada
Takatoriki Miyabiyama
Musoyama Tochiazuma
Dejima Takanonami
Musashimaru Chiyotaikai
Takanohana Akebono
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Ozumo
Kyodo News Service