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Kaio wins his first
tournament at 14-1

TOKYO (AP) - Komusubi (junior champion second class) Kaio sent out lower-ranked Tamakasuga Sunday to win the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament title with a 14-1 record.

It was the 27-year-old Kaio's first tournament victory since he entered professional sumo in 1988.

Kaio's title came when Takanohana forced out his fellow yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, in the day's final bout.

Up to then Akebono had been tied with Kaio but fell to 13-2. Takanohana also ended at 13-2.

"I got nervous a little today, but I tried to show my sumo. I am very happy for the victory," said Kaio, who received the 10 million yen (dlrs 93,000) tournament victory prize along with his ninth Outstanding Performance Prize and his fifth Fighting Spirit prize.

Each prize is worth 2 million yen (dlrs 19,000).

Kaio also received the Prime Minister Cup from Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in the ring.

Kaio fought off No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tamakasuga's dodging attempts and sent him out. Tamakasuga ended at 9-6.

In other major bouts, Chiyotaikai charged his fellow ozeki (champion) Dejima with hand thrusts and slapped him down. Chiyotaikai ended at 11-4 and Dejima at 8-7.

Sekiwake (junior champion) Miyabiyama, seeking promotion to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki, forced out ozeki Takanonami and received his third Fighting Spirit award for his 11-4 record.

Takanonami ended at 6-9. He will face demotion in the next tournament in July because he was unable to win a majority of his 15 bouts for two consecutive tournaments. Takanonami ended at 7-8 in the last tournament in March.

Ozekis have the privilege of keeping their ranking unless they lose a majority of bouts for two consecutive tournaments.

No. 12 maegashira Tochinohana drove out No. 3-ranked Takamisakari (11-4) of juryo division and received his first Fighting Spirit Award and his first Technique Prize for his 12-3 record, including victories from two ozekis - Chiyotaikai and Takanonami.

In other major bouts, No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, pushed out komubusi Takatoriki, winner of the last tournament, for his fifth victory against 10 defeats. Takatoriki ended at 2-13.

No. 6 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Monogolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, slapped down No. 2 maegashira Wakanoyama and ended at 7-8. Wakanoyama was 5-10.

No. 2-ranked Sentoryu of the juryo division thrust out No. 13 maegashira Aogiyama and finished at 8-7. Aogiyama ended at 7-8.

Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, may be promoted to the senior makuuchi division before the next tournament.

In the 26-member juryo, No. 10-ranked Hoshitango slapped down No. 5-ranked Kitakachidoki and ended at 8-7. Kitakachidoki finished at 4-11.

In makushita, the top junior division, No. 22-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, won the division's title with a 7-0 record and received the prize of 500,000 yen (dlrs 4,600). Kuniazuma had no bout on Sunday.

No. 47-ranked Kasugaoh (3-4), or Kim Son-tek from South Korea, pulled down No. 49-ranked Kototaiga.

In Sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 93-ranked Ryuo (4-3), or Wang Yu from China, threw down No. 90-ranked Chiyonotaka.

In Jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 80-ranked Asasekiryu, or Mongolian Badaarch Dashunyam, sent out No. 110 Takahashi in a playoff and won the division title. Asasekiryu pocketed the prize of 200,000 yen (dlrs 1,900).

In other matches, No. 130-ranked Hakuba (5-2), or Mongolian Ariunbayar Unurjargal, downed No. 133-ranked Minanosato with an arm throw.

No. 133-ranked Kitakasuga (6-1), or Mongolian Tsolmonbayar Munkhbat, sent out No. 142-ranked Noguchi from behind.

In jonokuchi, the lowest junior division, No. 20-ranked Orora, or Russian Mkhakhanov Anatolivaleryevich, drove out No. 24-ranked Wakataizan.

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

Results

TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Sunday, the final day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena:

Winners Losers

Sentoryu (juryo) (8-7) Aogiyama (7-8)
Tochinohana (12-3) Takamisakari (juryo) (11-4)
Higonoumi (9-6) Aminishiki (juryo) (8-7)
Kinkaiyama (5-10) Oikari (juryo) (7-8)
Asanosho (4-11) Tokitsuumi (5-10)
Kotonowaka (10-5) Chiyotenzan (6-9)
Kotoryu (7-8) Hayateumi (9-6)
Kaiho (7-8) Shikishima (6-9)
Jumonji (6-9) Daizen (3-12)
Oginishiki (6-9) Toki (9-6)
Terao (5-10) Hamanoshima (3-12)
Kyokutenho (7-8) Wakanoyama (5-10)
Asanowaka (5-10) Tochinonada (5-10)
Kyokushuzan (5-10) Takatoriki (2-13)
Kaio (14-1) Tamakasuga (9-6)
Tosanoumi (9-6) Takanowaka (8-7)
Akinoshima (10-5) Tochiazuma (9-6)
Miyabiyama (11-4) Takanonami (6-9)
Chiyotaikai (11-4) Dejima (8-7)
Takanohana (13-2) Akebono (13-2)

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Juryo Division

Hoshitango (8-7) Kitakachidoki (4-11)

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Junior Divisions

Makushita

Kasugaoh (3-4) Kototaiga

Sandanme

Ryuo (4-3) Chiyonotaka

Jonidan

Hakuba (5-2) Minanosato
Kitakasuga (6-1) Noguchi

Playoff

Asasekiryu def. Takahashi

Jonokuchi

Orora (3-4) Wakataizan

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

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Results in Scoreboard

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