Takanohana on top
of summer sumo

Musashimaru has second loss

TOKYO, May 15 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Takanohana gave Mongolian upstart Asashoryu a sumo lesson Tuesday to keep his record unblemished on the third day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo tournament.

Yokozuna hopeful Kaio, however, slipped up against komusubi Kotomitsuki at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan for his first loss of the tourney to put an early damper on his tops to defend his title here and earn promotion to grand champion.

In the day's featured bout, Takanohana put on a perfect display of power sumo against Asashoryu, overwhelming the newly promoted komusubi at the face-off and then muscling him out of the ring.

The result was a disappointment for the crowd hoping to see the energetic Mongolian claim his third upset win of the tourney, but served as a reminder to the Wakamatsu stable star that the path to the pinnacle of the sumo world is not all that smooth.

Asashoryu (2-1), who equaled ozeki Konishiki's record in reaching the "sanyaku" ranks after only 14 tournaments, had upset yokozuna Musashimaru and ozeki Musoyama on the first two days of the basho.

Musashimaru (1-2) fell to his second upset loss Tuesday and looked out of sorts against Takanowaka (1-2). The Samoan-born fighter failed to keep his balance in a charge at the top-ranked maegashira and was maneuvered out as his opponent escaped sideways.

Kaio's plans for his third Emperor's Cup and a move up to sumo's ultimate rank also took a dent when he was shoved out of the ring by Kotomitsuki (2-1) who snared his second ozeki scalp of the tourney.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai remained perfect with a victory over Tochinonada (0-3), throwing the sekiwake down to the ground, and now only needs five more wins to avoid relegation.

Fellow ozeki Miyabiyama, also in danger of losing his rank, notched a second win as he had no trouble seeing off Chiyotenzan.

Dejima (1-2) did not reach the same heights and never managed to recover once No. 1 maegashira Wakanosato (3-0) got hold of his belt at the initial charge, an over-arm throw was then enough to topple ozeki.

Ozeki Musoyama (1-2) finally broke into the winner's column by shoving out No. 3 maegashira Tamanoshima (0-3).

In the lower ranks, Kyokutenho (2-1) and Kyokushuzan (3-0) gave fans of the Mongolian something to cheer as both recorded easy wins in earlier bouts.

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Results

TOKYO, May 15 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Tuesday, the third day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):

Won -- Technique -- Lost

Kyokushuzan 3-0 -- oshidashi -- Takatoriki 1-2
Tochinohana 2-1 -- uwatenage -- +Hamanoshima 1-2
Toki 2-1 -- oshidashi -- Hamanishiki 0-3
Wakatsutomu 3-0 -- oshidashi -- Daizen 1-2
Higonoumi 3-0 -- okuritaoshi -- Terao 1-2
Kotonowaka 1-2 -- yorikiri -- Asanowaka 0-3
Aminishiki 3-0 -- komatasukui -- Otsukasa 2-1
Kyokutenho 2-1 -- yorikiri -- Akinoshima 0-3
Tochisakae 2-1 -- oshidashi -- Jumonji 2-1
Hayateumi 2-1 -- uwatenage -- Tokitsuumi 0-3
Tamakasuga 1-2 -- oshidashi -- Kaiho 1-2
Takanonami 2-1 -- hikiotoshi -- Tosanoumi 1-2
Tochiazuma 2-1 -- uwatedashinage -- Wakanoyama 1-2
Musoyama 1-2 -- oshidashi -- Tamanoshima 0-3
Kotomitsuki 2-1 -- okuridashi -- Kaio 2-1
Chiyotaikai 3-0 -- tsukiotoshi -- Tochinonada 0-3
Miyabiyama 2-1 -- oshidashi -- Chiyotenzan 1-2
Wakanosato 3-0 -- uwatenage -- Dejima 1-2
Takanowaka 1-2 -- hatakikomi -- Musashimaru 1-2
Takanohana 3-0 -- oshidashi -- Asashoryu 2-1

Juryo Division

Masutsuyoshi (1-2) Wakaazuma (1-2)
Kuniazuma (3-0) Sumanofuji (2-1)
Sentoryu (1-2) Kobo (2-1)

Junior Divisions:

Jonidan

Daigonishiki Bontensho (1-1)
Miura Daionami (0-2)
Ryukiyama (2-0) Asahanada
Koryu (2-0) Tochiryuzan
Hoshizakura Orora (0-2)
Ama (2-0) Nishisegawa

Jonokuchi

Sensho (1-1) Araki
Hakuho (1-1) Furukawa

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

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Wednesday's bouts

Daizen 1 - 0 Kyokushuzan
+Aogiyama x - x Takatoriki
Tochinohana 0 - 0 Hamanishiki
Toki 1 - 0 Aminishiki
Terao 0 - 0 Wakatsutomu
Otsukasa 3 - 1 Asanowaka
Higonoumi 9 - 8 Kotonowaka
Jumonji 0 - 1 Akinoshima
Kaiho 1 - 3 Kyokutenho
Tochisakae 0 - 1 Tokitsuumi
Tamakasuga 8 - 15 Takanonami
Wakanoyama 0 - 2 Hayateumi
Tosanoumi 11 - 7 Tochiazuma
Dejima 7 - 1 Chiyotenzan
Takanowaka 0 - 5 Musoyama
Kaio 0 - 0 Asashoryu
Chiyotaikai 1 - 0 Kotomitsuki
Tamanoshima 0 - 0 Miyabiyama
Takanohana 10 - 0 Tochinonada
Wakanosato 2 - 4 Musashimaru

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