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Sumo
TOKYO, Jan. 11 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Musashimaru blasted out rank-and-filer Tamakasuga and fellow grand champion Takanohana muscled out No. 4 maegashira Tochiazuma on Thursday as both wrestlers maintained their unbeaten records at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Takanohana,
Musashimaru still pacing
New Year sumoThe front-running yokozuna duo both notched their fifth wins without a loss at the 15-day tourney at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to stand one win ahead of a posse of maegashira which includes the Mongolian duo of Kyokutenho and Asashoryu.
For Musashimaru, looking to lift the first Emperor's Cup of the new millennium, it was business as usual as the Samoan-born giant threw himself into gear and knocked No. 5 maegashira Tamakasuga (2-3) out of the ring with three mighty shoves in the day's final bout.
In the preceding bout, however, Takanohana survived a scare when he was thrown off balance by Tochiazuma as both wrestlers tussled for belt control following the charge.
But the yokozuna's wealth of experience shone through as he quickly recovered with a strong left-handed grip to usher the maegashira over the ring's straw ridge and remain on course for his first title in more than two years.
At sumo's second highest rank of ozeki, Dejima (2-3) and Musoyama (3-2) managed to restore some pride for the Musashigawa stable as they rebounded from back-to-back defeats to less-fancied grapplers.
Defending New Year champion Musoyama quickly marched out No. 4 maegashira Akinoshima (2-3) and Dejima easily disposed of No. 3 maegashira Kaiho (1-4).
But Miyabiyama, the only ozeki not to suffer the ignominy of defeat at the hands of lower-ranked wrestlers on Wednesday, failed to add to his stablemates' wins as fifth-ranked maegashira Tosanoumi hauled the ozeki down to leave both wrestlers at 3-2.
Ozeki Kaio also hit back in textbook fashion as he steamrollered newly promoted komusubi Takanowaka (1-4) out of the ring to improve his record to 3-2.
It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Mongolian maegashira trio as eighth-ranked Kyokutenho and makuuchi division newcomer Asashoryu both posted wins to sit one win off the pace, while former komusubi Kyokushuzan slipped to his third defeat of the tourney.
Kyokutenho forced out No. 11 Kinkaiyama (2-3) and 12th-ranked Asashoryu chased out No. 11 Minatofuji (2-3).
But trickster Kyokushuzan, a No. 10 maegashira, was toppled by seventh-ranked Kotoryu, who remains among the chase pack with ninth-ranked Tokitsuumi and 14th-ranked Asanowaka at 4-1.
TOKYO, Jan. 11 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Thursday, the fifth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ denotes juryo division wrestler): Results of main bouts on
5th day of New Year sumo
Won Technique Lost
Wakakosho 3-2 oshidashi +Terao 2-3
Tamarikido 1-4 oshidashi Daishi 2-3
Asashoryu 4-1 oshidashi Takatoriki 2-3
Asanowaka 4-1 hatakikomi Minatofuji 2-3
Kyokutenho 4-1 yorikiri Kinkaiyama 2-3
Kotoryu 4-1 yorikiri Kyokushuzan 2-3
Tokitsuumi 4-1 yorikiri Higonoumi 2-3
Hamanoshima 3-2 yorikiri Chiyotenzan 2-3
Kotonowaka 3-2 katasukashi Tochinohana 0-5
Wakanoyama 3-2 oshidashi Takanonami 1-4
Tochinonada 3-2 yorikiri Kotomitsuki 1-4
Wakanosato 3-2 tsukidashi Tochisakae 1-4
Tosanoumi 3-2 hatakikomi Miyabiyama 3-2
Dejima 2-3 oshidashi Kaiho 1-4
Kaio 3-2 oshidashi Takanowaka 1-4
Musoyama 3-2 oshidashi Akinoshima 2-3
Takanohana 5-0 okuridashi Tochiazuma 2-3
Musashimaru 5-0 tsukidashi Tamakasuga 2-3
Friday's bouts
Asanowaka x - x +Terao
+Otsukasa x - x Wakakosho
+Jumonji x - x Tamarikido
Takatoriki 3 - 1 Daishi
Kyokushuzan 4 - 5 Minatofuji
Higonoumi 3 - 1 Kinkaiyama
Asashoryu 0 - 0 Kotoryu
Tochinohana 1 - 1 Hamanoshima
Tokitsuumi 4 - 3 Chiyotenzan
Kyokutenho 2 - 5 Tamakasuga
Wakanoyama 0 - 7 Akinoshima
Wakanosato 3 - 1 Tochinonada
Takanowaka 0 - 1 Kotomitsuki
Tochiazuma 9 - 3 Musoyama
Kaiho 1 - 2 Miyabiyama
Dejima 4 - 6 Kotonowaka
Kaio 18 - 23 Takanonami
Tochisakae 0 - 0 Musashimaru
Takanohana 18 - 7 Tosanoumi
TOKYO (AP) - Hawaii-born Musashimaru and his fellow yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana kept a two-way lead at 5-0 on Thursday, the fifth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo tournament. Yokozuna Musashimaru,
Takanohana keep two-
way lead at 5-0One victory behind the two yokozunas at 4-1 were six wrestlers, including sekiwake (junior champion) Wakanosato and two Mongolians - No. 8 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokutenho and No. 12 maegashira Asashoryu.
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in downtown Tokyo, Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, thrust out No. 5 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tamakasuga, handing Tamakasuga his third defeat against two victories.
Takanohana fought off No. 4 maegashira Tochiazuma's initial charge of a tossing attempt and sent him out from behind. Tochiazuma is 2-3.
Ozeki (champion) Musoyama crashed against No. 4 maegashira Akinoshima with his head and forced him out to improve his record to 3-2. Akinoshima is 2-3.
Ozeki Dejima charged No. 3 maegashira Kaiho with hand thrusts and thrust him out for his second victory against three defeats. Kaiho is 1-4.
Ozeki Kaio attacked komusubi (junior champion second class) Takanowaka with hand thrusts against his foe's throat and sent him out. Kaio is 1-2 and Takanowaka 1-4.
No. 5 maegashira Tosanoumi fought off ozeki Dejima's driving attempt and slapped him down, leaving both wrestlers at 3-2.
In other major bouts, Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, lifted up No. 11 maegashira Kinkaiyama to the ring's edge and sent him out, leaving Kinkaiyama at 2-3.
No. 7 maegashira Kotoryu forced out No. 10 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Batbayar Davaa, for his fourth victory against one defeat. Kyokushuzan is 2-3.
Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, sent out No. 11 maegashira Takatoriki, leaving Takatoriki at 2-3.
In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 6-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, sidestepped to left in the initial charge and slapped down No. 5-ranked Yotsukasa for his fourth victory against one defeat. Yotsukasa is 2-3.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 6-ranked Wakaazuma (1-2), or Yoshinobu Kuroda from Brazil, was crushed down by No. 4-ranked Yamada.
No. 32-ranked Kyokutenzan (3-0), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, slapped down No. 31-ranked Wakainami.
No. 47-ranked Akasekiryu (2-1), or Mongolian Badaarch Dashunyam, threw down No. 48-ranked Narahikari.
In sandanme, the second highest junior division, Azumaoh (2-1), or Brazilian Yasuto Morita, was pushed out by No. 48-ranked Yamamoto.
In jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 30-ranked Daibanjaku (1-2), or Mongolian Batsukh Khaidavmunkh, was crushed down by No. 28-ranked Seigo.
No. 38-ranked Fudoyama (2-1), or Mongolian Nyamjuv Luvsandorj, threw down No. 35-ranked Ichinoya.
No. 59-ranked Kitakasuga (1-2), or Mongolian Tsolmonbayar Munkhbat, was pulled down by No. 58-ranked Maenoharu.
No. 72-ranked Hakuba (3-0), or Mongolian Ariunbayar Unurjargal, pulled down No. 73-ranked Minanosato.
No. 118-ranked Daionji (2-1), or Mongolian Ulziibayar Ulziijargal, was sent out by No. 120-ranked Hayatejo.
In jonokuchi, the lowest junior division, No. 35-ranked Koryu (1-2), or Mongolian Erdenesukh Monkhorgil, slapped down No. 37-ranked Touma.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the tournament.
Eds: SUBS final bout in first section to CORRECT winner to Musashimaru sted Musoyama. 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
Wakakosho (3-2) Terao (juryo) (2-3)
Tamarikido (1-4) Daishi (2-3)
Asashoryu (4-1) Takatoriki (2-3)
Asanowaka (4-1) Minatofuji (2-3)
Kyokutenho (4-1) Kinkaiyama (2-3)
Kotoryu (4-1) Kyokushuzan (2-3)
Tokitsuumi (4-1) Higonoumi (2-3)
Hamanoshima (3-2) Chiyotenzan (2-3)
Kotonowaka (3-2) Tochinohana (0-5)
Wakanoyama (3-2) Takanonami (1-4)
Tochinonada (3-2) Kotomitsuki (1-4)
Wakanosato (4-1) Tochisakae (1-4)
Tosanoumi (3-2) Miyabiyama (3-2)
Dejima (2-3) Kaiho (1-4)
Kaio (3-2) Takanowaka (1-4)
Musoyama (3-2) Akinoshima (2-3)
Takanohana (5-0) Tochiazuma (2-3)
Musashimaru 5-0) Tamakasuga (2-3)
Juryo Division
Kuniazuma (4-1) Yotsukasa (2-3)
Junior Divisions:
Makushita
Yamada Wakaazuma (1-2)
Kyokutenzan (3-0) Wakainami
Asasekiryu (2-1) Narahikari
Sandanme
Yamamoto Azumaoh (2-1)
Jonidan
Koshinoryu Takaoh(2-1)
Seigo Daibanjaku (1-2)
Fudoyama (2-1) Ichinoya
Maenoharu Kitakasuga (1-2)
Hakuba (3-0) Naminosato
Hayatejo Daionji (2-1)
Jonokuchi
Koryu (1-2) Touma(Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament. Records of foreign wrestlers' opponents were not available.)
Friday's main bouts:
Asanowaka Terao (juryo)
Otsukasa (juryo) Wakakosho
Jumonji (juryo) Tamarikido
Takatoriki Daishi
Kyokushuzan Minatofuji
Higonoumi Kinkaiyama
Asashoryu Kotoryu
Tochinohana Hamanoshima
Tokitsuumi Chiyotenzan
Kyokutenho Tamakasuga
Wakanoyama Akinoshima
Wakanosato Tochinonada
Takanowaka Kotomitsuki
Tochiazuma Musoyama
Kaiho Miyabiyama
Dejima Kotonowaka
Kaio Takanonami
Tochisakae Musashimaru
Takanohana Tosanoumi
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Ozumo
Kyodo News Service