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Sumo
TOKYO, Jan. 17 (Kyodo) - There was no change at the top of the leaderboard Wednesday as Musashimaru and Takanohana both preserved their unbeaten 11-0 records to stay two wins clear of ozeki Kaio heading into the home stretch of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Musashimaru,
Takanohana still on top
at New Year sumoYokozuna Takanohana kept his hopes alive of capturing a 21st Emperor's Cup and ending a winless streak that dates back to autumn 1998 by barging out ozeki Musoyama in a hard-fought bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Despite a spirited challenge from Musoyama, Takanohana combined superior footwork with dogged determination as he forced the New year defending champion over the straw ridge in the day's penultimate bout and saddled him with a fourth loss of the 15-day meet.
Rival grand champion Musashimaru wasted no time in elbowing out struggling sekiwake Kotomitsuki (2-9) and gained revenge against the Sadogatake stable wrestler, who ousted the Samoan-born giant on his way to a runner-up 13-2 record at last year's Kyushu tourney.
Meanwhile, Kaio backed out fourth-ranked maegashira Akinoshima (3-8) after weathering an early storm to remain in touch with the front-running yokozuna pair at 9-2.
Ozeki Dejima only needed an instant to haul down fifth-ranked Tamakasuga (4-7) and improve to 6-5, but fellow ozeki Miyabiyama was upset by Tochiazuma (7-4) and slipped to 6-5 as the No. 4 maegashira claimed his third Musashigawa stable ozeki scalp of the tourney.
Newly promoted sekiwake Wakanosato moved to 7-4 and edged a step closer to a winning record by easily muscling out No. 2 maegashira Kotonowaka (4-7).
Mongolian No. 8 maegashira Kyokutenho slipped three wins off the pace as 13th-ranked Tamarikido (6-5) swung him out of the ring with a backward pivot throw, while compatriot Asashoryu (7-4), a No. 12 maegashira, was blasted out by sixth-ranked Chiyotenzan (5-6).
However, 10th-ranked Kyokushuzan restored some pride for the Mongolian trio by throwing out 14th-ranked Wakakosho (5-6) to register his sixth win of the 15-day meet.
TOKYO, Jan. 17 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Wednesday, the 11th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ denotes juryo division wrestler): Results of main bouts on
11th day of New Year sumo
Won Technique Lost
Daishi 5-6 tsukiotoshi +Otsukasa 9-2
Minatofuji 4-7 hatakikomi +Terao 6-5 +Tamanonada 9-2 yorikiri Kinkaiyama 4-7
Kyokushuzan 6-5 uwatenage Wakakosho 5-6
Asanowaka 8-3 oshidashi Hamanoshima 4-7
Tamarikido 6-5 utchari Kyokutenho 8-3
Kotoryu 7-4 yorikiri Takatoriki 6-5
Chiyotenzan 5-6 oshidashi Asashoryu 7-4
Tokitsuumi 6-5 sukuinage Tochinohana 2-9
Tosanoumi 5-6 tsukiotoshi Kaiho 2-9
Higonoumi 5-6 oshidashi Tochisakae 3-8
Wakanoyama 7-4 oshidashi Tochinonada 5-6
Takanowaka 3-8 uwatenage Takanonami 4-7
Wakanosato 7-4 yorikiri Kotonowaka 4-7
Kaio 9-2 okuridashi Akinoshima 3-8
Tochiazuma 7-4 oshidashi Miyabiyama 6-5
Dejima 6-5 hatakikomi Tamakasuga 4-7
Takanohana 11-0 yorikiri Musoyama 7-4
Musashimaru 11-0 kimedashi Kotomitsuki 2-9
Thursday's bouts
Asanowaka 0 - 1 Wakakosho +Jumonji x - x Minatofuji
Kyokushuzan 4 - 2 Kinkaiyama
Hamanoshima 4 - 5 Daishi
Higonoumi 0 - 0 Tamarikido
Takatoriki 1 - 5 Chiyotenzan
Tosanoumi 0 - 0 Asashoryu
Tokitsuumi 3 - 3 Tamakasuga
Kotoryu 2 - 3 Tochiazuma
Tochinohana 0 - 0 Kaiho
Akinoshima 0 - 0 Tochisakae
Takanowaka 1 - 2 Wakanoyama
Kotonowaka 4 - 3 Tochinonada
Takanonami 0 - 0 Kotomitsuki
Dejima 3 - 2 Wakanosato
Kaio 19 - 14 Musoyama
Kyokutenho 0 - 2 Musashimaru
Takanohana 6 - 0 Miyabiyama
RESENDING to change to sports category code Musashimaru,
Takanohana remain
undefeated at 11-0TOKYO (AP) - Hawaii-born Musashimaru and his fellow yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana maintained a two-way lead at 11-0 Wednesday with four days left in the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo tournament.
Only ozeki (champion) Kaio closely followed the co-leaders at 9-2 as No. 8 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokutenho from Mongolia suffered his third defeat against eight victories.
Wrestling at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, Musashimaru, whose real name is Fiamalu Penitani, clamped newly promoted sekiwake (junior champion) Kotomitsuki's arms from outside and sent him out, leaving Kotomitsuki at 2-9.
Takanohana grabbed ozeki Musoyama's belt tightly and sent him out after charging him with a series of arm throw attempts. Musoyama is 7-4.
Kaio charged No. 4 maegashira Akinoshima with a pulling attempt and sent him out from behind, leaving Akinoshima at 3-8.
In other major bouts, ozeki Dejima slapped down No. 5 maegashira Tamakasuga for his sixth victory against five defeats. Tamakasuga is 4-7.
No. 4 maegashira Tochiazuma dodged ozeki Miyabiyama's initial charge of pushing attempts skillfully and thrust him out for his seventh victory against four defeats. Miyabiyama is 6-5.
Kyokutenho, or Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, lifted up No. 13 maegashira Tamarikido to the ring's edge, but Tamarikido twisted out Kyokutenho for his sixth victory against five defeats.
No. 12 maegashira Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, was sent out by No. 6 maegashira Chiyotenzan for his fourth defeat against seven victories. Chiyotenzan is 5-6.
No. 10 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Batbayar Davaa, sidestepped to left in the initial charge and threw down No. 14 maegashira Wakakosho to improve his record to 6-5. Wakakosho is 5-6.
In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 6-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, pushed out No. 10-ranked Aogiyama, leaving both wrestlers at 6-5.
In makushita, the highest junior division, No. 6-ranked Wakaazuma (3-3), or Yoshinobu Kuroda from Brazil, sent out No. 3-ranked Hokutoriki.
In jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 30-ranked Takaoh (3-3), or Wang Yu from Shanghai, China, was driven out by No. 26-ranked Nishisegawa.
No. 30-ranked Daibanjaku (3-3), or Mongolian Batsukh Khaidavmunkh, forced out No. 33-ranked Saitoyama.
No. 59-ranked Kitakasuga (2-4), or Mongolian Tsolmonbayar Munkhbat, threw down No. 55-ranked Wakatetsu.
No. 72-ranked Hakuba (6-0), or Mongolian Ariunbayar Unurjargal, sent out No. 82-ranked Suzukawa.
No. 75-ranked Orora (3-3), or Russian Mikhakhanov Anatolivaleryevich, was thrown down by No. 73-ranked Namenosato.
No. 96-ranked Ryukiyama (3-1), or Korean Kim Soo-young, forced out No. 94-ranked Kotoshimogama.
In jonokuchi, the lowest junior division, No. 33-ranked Hoshizakura (4-2), or Mongolian Myagmar Altangerel, threw down No. 25-ranked Wakadaiki.
No. 34-ranked Hoshihikari (4-2), or Mongolian Duvchin Lkhagvaa, sent out No. 37-ranked Toma from behind.
No. 35-ranked Koryu (3-2), or Mongolian Erdenesukh Monkhorgil, crushed down No. 31-ranked Yatsurugiyama.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the tournament.
TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Wednesday, the 11th day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena: Results of main sumo bouts
Winners Losers
Daishi (5-6) Otsukasa (juryo) (9-2)
Minatofuji (4-7) Terao (juryo) (6-5)
Tamanonada (juryo) (9-2) Kinkaiyama (4-7)
Kyokushuzan (6-5) Wakakosho (5-6)
Asanowaka (8-3) Hamanoshima (4-7)
Tamarikido (6-5) Kyokutenho (8-3)
Kotoryu (7-4) Takatoriki (6-5)
Chiyotenzan (5-6) Asashoryu (7-4)
Tokitsuumi (6-5) Tochinonana (2-9)
Tosanoumi (5-6) Kaiho (2-9)
Higonoumi (5-6) Tochisakae (3-8)
Wakanoyama (7-4) Tochinonada (5-6)
Takanowaka (3-8) Takanonami (4-7)
Wakanosato (7-4) Kotonowaka (4-7)
Kaio (9-2) Akinoshima (3-8)
Tochiazuma (7-4) Miyabiyama (6-5)
Dejima (6-5) Tamakasuga (4-7)
Takanohana (11-0) Musoyama (7-4)
Musashimaru (11-0) Kotomitsuki (2-9)
Junior Divisions:
Makushita
Wakaazuma (3-3 Hokutoriki
Jonidan
Nishisegawa Takaoh (3-3)
Daibanjaku (3-3) Saitoyama
Kitakasuga (2-4) Wakatetsu
Hakuba (6-0) Suzukawa
Namenosato Orora (3-3)
Ryukizan (3-1) Kotoshimogama
Jonokuchi
Hoshizakura (4-2) Wakadaiki
Koryu (3-2) Yatsurugiyama
Hoshihikari (4-2) Toma(Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament. Records of foreign wrestlers' opponents were not available.)
Thursday's main bouts:
Asanowaka Wakakosho
Jumonji (juryo) Minatofuji
Kyokushuzan Kinkaiyama
Hamanoshima Daishi
Higonoumi Tamarikido
Takatoriki Chiyotenzan
Tosanoumi Asashoryu
Tokitsuumi Tamakasuga
Kotoryu Tochiazuma
Tochinohana Kaiho
Akinoshima Tochisakae
Takanowaka Wakanoyama
Kotonowaka Tochinonada
Takanonami Kotomitsuki
Dejima Wakanosato
Kaio Musoyama
Kyokutenho Musashimaru
Takanohana Miyabiyama
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Ozumo
Kyodo News Service