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Sumo
TOKYO, May 20 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Akebono won handily over ozeki Chiyotaikai and komusubi Kaio reached 13 wins for the first time in his career Saturday as the co-leaders remained deadlocked heading into the final day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. Akebono, Kaio
deadlocked for leadAkebono muscled out Chiyotaikai in the day's penultimate bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan for his 13th win against one loss in the 15-day tourney after watching Kaio dodge a bullet against Tochiazuma, saving victory with a slick move at the edge of the ring.
Meanwhile, yokozuna Takanohana kept alive his own championship hopes by forcing out ozeki Dejima (8-6) for his 12th win.
Takanohana's hopes for his first Emperor's Cup since September 1998 will depend upon No. 4 maegashira Tamakasuga upsetting Kaio on Sunday and then winning over Akebono in the final bout to force a three-way playoff for the title.
If Kaio wins against Tamakasuga, Akebono would force a playoff for the championship hardware with a win over Takanohana or Takanohana could play the spoiler with a win against his yokozuna rival.
A loss by Kaio and an Akebono win would give the Hawaiian-born grand champion his first championship since the summer tourney in 1997.
In the day's featured bouts, Akebono avoided trading slaps and thrusts with Chiyotaikai (10-4) by wrapping the ozeki up in a bear hug at the face-off and marching him out of the ring backward.
Kaio had his hands full against a determined Tochiazuma (9-5), who pushed the veteran grappler all around the ring.
The spunky sekiwake, however, got too eager at the edge and let Kaio escape to the left as he was tugged over the straw bales.
In other bouts, No. 12 maegashira Tochinohana got both arms locked around Takanonami at the charge and hoisted the listless ozeki out of the ring for his 11th win in his makuuchi division debut.
Takanonami's loss was his eighth of the tournament and means that he becomes the second wrestler after former ozeki Kaiketsu, currently sumo elder Hanaregoma, to lose sumo's second highest ranking twice.
Sekiwake Miyabiyama (10-4), meanwhile, slapped Akinoshima (9-5) down to the ring's surface from behind after the No. 7 maegashira made a weak attempt at a headlock.
The win was Miyabiyama's 33rd over the last three tournaments, giving the Musashigawa stable a strong argument for a third ozeki along with Dejima and Musoyama, who is sitting out the tourney with an injury.
Mongolia's Kyokushuzan tripped up Tochinonada (5-9) with a foot sweep for only his fourth win of the basho and compatriot Kyokutenho (6-8) uncorked a rare, back-bending "utchari" throw at the edge to steal a win from Terao (4-10).
Results of main bouts on day 14
TOKYO, May 20 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts on Saturday, the 14th day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):
Won Technique Lost
Higonoumi 8-6 sukuinage Kotonowaka 9-5
Shikishima 6-8 hatakikomi Aogiyama 7-7
Takanowaka 8-6 okuridashi Kinkaiyama 4-10
Kyokutenho 6-8 utchari Terao 4-10
Kaiho 6-8 yorikiri Jumonji 5-9
Toki 9-5 hikiotoshi Kotoryu 6-8
Tamakasuga 9-5 hikiotoshi Hayateumi 9-5
Wakanoyama 5-9 oshitaoshi Tokitsuumi 5-9
Asanosho 3-11 tsukidashi Hamanoshima 3-11
Kyokushuzan 4-10 susoharai Tochinonada 5-9
Chiyotenzan 6-8 oshidashi Asanowaka 4-10
Tosanoumi 8-6 oshidashi Oginishiki 5-9
Daizen 3-11 oshidashi Takatoriki 2-12
Miyabiyama 10-4 shitatenage Akinoshima 9-5
Kaio 13-1 hatakikomi Tochiazuma 9-5
Tochinohana 11-3 yorikiri Takanonami 6-8
Akebono 13-1 yorikiri Chiyotaikai 10-4
Takanohana 12-2 yorikiri Dejima 8-6
Sunday's bouts
Aogiyama x - x +Sentoryu
Tochinohana x - x +Takamisakari
+Aminishiki x - x Higonoumi
+Oikari x - x Kinkaiyama
Asanosho 2 - 3 Tokitsuumi
Kotonowaka 2 - 1 Chiyotenzan
Hayateumi 0 - 0 Kotoryu
Kaiho 2 - 1 Shikishima
Jumonji 0 - 0 Daizen
Oginishiki 1 - 0 Toki
Terao 9 - 10 Hamanoshima
Wakanoyama 0 - 4 Kyokutenho
Tochinonada 1 - 2 Asanowaka
Kyokushuzan 2 - 10 Takatoriki
Tamakasuga 4 - 7 Kaio
Tosanoumi 0 - 0 Takanowaka
Akinoshima 4 - 10 Tochiazuma
Miyabiyama 1 - 5 Takanonami
Dejima 4 - 6 Chiyotaikai
Akebono 20 - 20 Takanohana
TOKYO (AP) - Yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono and high-ranked Kaio won Saturday to remain tied for the lead at 13-1 after the penultimate day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. Akebono, Kaio share lead
Yokozuna Takanohana kept his title hopes alive with a win to improve to 12-2. Takanohana will enter a playoff with Akebono and Kaio on the last day if he wins and both his rivals lose.
Akebono, or Hawaiian-born Chad Rowan, easily bulldozed out ozeki Chiyotaikai, who dropped to 10-4.
Komusubi (junior champion second class) Kaio was pushed back by sekiwake (junior champion) Tochiazuma after the initial charge, but fought back and nimbly stepped aside to send his opponent out. Tochiazuma was at 9-5.
Takanohana charged hard at ozeki (champion) Dejima and pushed him out.
Rising star komusubi Miyabiyama pushed down No. 7 maegashira Akinoshima for his 10th win against four losses. Akinoshima fell to 9-5.
No. 12 maegashira Tochinohana (11-3) pushed out ozeki Takanonami, who dropped to 6-8, ensuring he will lose a majority of bouts this tournament and face demotion.
In other major bouts, No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, pushed down No. 1 maegashira Tochinonada to improve to 4-10. Tochinonada dropped to 5-9.
Kyokutenho, or Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, wrestling as No. 6 maegashira, was pushed to the edge by No. 13 maegashira Terao, but was then able to swing his opponent out. Kyokutenho improved to 6-8, while Terao slipped to 4-10.
In the 26-member juryo, just below the senior makuuchi, No. 10-ranked Hoshitango (7-7), or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, pulled down No. 4-ranked Wakakosho (6-8).
No. 2-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, pushed down No. 8-ranked Tamanokuni.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 51-ranked Kyokutenzan, or Mongolian Enhbat Batmunkha, defeated Raiko to improve to 4-3.
No. 17-ranked Wakaazuma (3-3), or Yoshinobu Kuroda of Brazil, defeated Hokutomine, while No. 9-ranked Asashoyu (6-1) beat Takahama.
In Sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 93-ranked Ryuo (3-4), or Wang Yu from China, lost to Kamakura. No. 82-ranked Azumaoh, or Brazilian Yasuto Morita, (3-4) was beaten by Tomonofuji.
In Jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 112-ranked Fudoyama, or Mongolian Nyamjuv Luvsandorj, defeated Dainishiki, while No. 93-ranked Daibanjaku, or Mongolian Batsukh Khaidavmunkh, was beaten by Shimazakura.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.
Results of main sumo bouts
TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Saturday, the 14th day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena:
Winners Losers
Higonoumi (8-6) Kotonowaka (9-5)
Shikishima (6-8) Aogiyama (7-7)
Takanowaka (8-6) Kinkaiyama (4-10)
Kyokutenho (6-8) Terao (4-10)
Kaiho (6-8) Jumonji (5-9)
Toki (9-5) Kotoryu (6-8)
Tamakasuga (9-5) Hayateumi (9-5)
Wakanoyama (5-9) Tokitsuumi (5-9)
Asanosho (3-11) Hamanoshima (3-11)
Kyokushuzan (4-10) Tochinonada (5-9)
Chiyotenzan (6-8) Asanowaka (4-10)
Tosanoumi (8-6) Oginishiki (5-9)
Daizen (3-11) Takatoriki (2-12)
Miyabiyama (10-4) Akinoshima (9-5)
Kaio (13-1) Tochiazuma (9-5)
Tochinohana (11-3) Takanonami (6-8)
Akebono (13-1) Chiyotaikai (10-4)
Takanohana (12-2) Dejima (8-6)
Juryo Division
Sentoryu (7-7) Tamanoshima (6-8)
Hoshitango (7-7) Wakakosho (6-8)
Junior Divisions:
Makushita
Kyokutenzan (4-3) Raiko
Wakaazuma (3-3) Hokutomine
Asashoyu (6-1) Takahama
Sandanme
Kamakura Ryuo (3-4)
Tomonofuji Azumaoh (3-4)
Jonidan
Fudoyama (4-3) Dainishiki
Shimazakura Daibanjaku(4-3)(Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament. Records of foreign wrestlers' opponents were not available.)
Sunday's main bouts:
Aogiyama Sentoryu (juryo)
Tochinohana Takamisakari (juryo)
Aminishiki (juryo) Higonoumi
Oikari (juryo) Kinkaiyama
Asanosho Tokitsuumi
Kotonowaka Chiyotenzan
Hayateumi Kotoryu
Kaiho Shikishima
Jumonji Daizen
Oginishiki Toki
Terao Hamanoshima
Wakanoyama Kyokutenho
Tochinonada Asanowaka
Kyokushuzan Takatoriki
Tamakasuga Kaio
Tosanoumi Takanowaka
Akinoshima Tochiazuma
Miyabiyama Takanonami
Dejima Chiyotaikai
Akebono Takanohana
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Ozumo
Kyodo News Service