Musashimaru
on winning track

NAGOYA, July 10 (Kyodo) - Grand champion Musashimaru remained on track to lift his first Emperor's Cup of the year by squashing veteran maegashira top gun Takanonami on Tuesday to preserve his perfect record at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Dejima and Kaio also stayed undefeated at 3-0 as all five ozeki posted comfortable wins in a rare upset-free day at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

In Tuesday's final bout, Musashimaru, wrestling as the lone yokozuna in the 15-day meet, was twice forced on to one leg as Takanonami (0-3) attempted to wriggle free of the grizzly Samoan-born giant's grip at the edge of the ring.

But Musashimaru, aiming to win his first title since last autumn and ninth overall, prevailed in the 51st meeting between them, coolly regaining his balance and composure before squashing his opponent to the dirt surface.

Dejima's solid start to the tourney continued as the ozeki bolted out of his charge like a raging bull to send top-ranked maegashira Hayateumi (1-2), hurtling out of the ring for win No. 3.

Dejima now needs to post five more wins to retain his ozeki status after suffering a series of embarrassing defeats at the summer meet, culminating in a 5-10 record.

Spring champion Kaio also moved a step closer to posting the winning record required to stay at sumo's second highest rank by slapping down sekiwake returnee Kotomitsuki (1-2).

Ozeki Chiyotaikai improved to 2-1 after blasting out Mongolian Asashoryu, who has yet to find his giant-killing form, with a devastating series of slaps and thrusts and left the komusubi looking for his first win of the tournament.

Musoyama (2-1) wrenched down No. 2 maegashira Kotonowaka down to his third straight defeat with a powerful arm-lock throw and Musashigawa stablemate Miyabiyama bundled out second-ranked Higonoumi (1-2) for his first win to complete a perfect day for the ozeki rank.

In the lower echelons of sumo's elite makuuchi division, Mongolia's No. 11 maegashira Kyokutenho (2-1) quickly bulldozed out Jumonji to hand the ninth-ranked wrestler his third straight loss.

But compatriot Kyokushuzan, a No. 5 maegashira, slipped to 1-2 after being driven out of the ring by seventh-ranked Tamakasuga (2-1).

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Results

NAGOYA, July 10 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Tuesday, the third day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium:

Won -- Technique -- Lost

Wakatsutomu 2-1 -- hikiotoshi -- Minatofuji 0-3
Tokitsuumi 2-1 -- hikiotoshi -- Asanowaka 0-3
Oginishiki 3-0 -- oshidashi -- Aminishiki 1-2
Daizen 2-1 -- okuridashi -- Kitazakura 1-2
Kyokutenho 2-1 -- yorikiri -- Jumonji 0-3
Chiyotenzan 1-2 -- yorikiri -- Kotoryu 1-2
Kaiho 3-0 -- tsukiotoshi -- Tochinohana 1-2
Takanowaka 3-0 -- yorikiri -- Tamanoshima 2-1
Tamakasuga 2-1 -- oshidashi -- Kyokushuzan 1-2
Akinoshima 1-2 -- yorikiri -- Otsukasa 0-3
Tosanoumi 3-0 -- oshidashi -- Tochisakae 2-1
Wakanosato 3-0 -- oshidashi -- Toki 0-3
Tochiazuma 3-0 -- uwatedashinage -- Tochinonada 1-2
Musoyama 2-1 -- kotenage -- Kotonowaka 0-3
Chiyotaikai 2-1 -- oshidashi -- Asashoryu 0-3
Kaio 3-0 -- hikiotoshi -- Kotomitsuki 1-2
Dejima 3-0 -- oshidashi -- Hayateumi 1-2
Miyabiyama 1-2 -- oshidashi -- Higonoumi 1-2
Musashimaru 3-0 -- yoritaoshi -- Takanonami 0-3

Juryo Division

Sentoryu (2-1) Takatoriki (2-1)
Kuniazuma (3-0) Juzan (0-3)

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Wednesday's bouts

Asanowaka 9 - 9 Minatofuji
Oginishiki 0 - 5 Tokitsuumi
Wakatsutomu 0 - 0 Aminishiki
Kotoryu 5 - 4 Kyokutenho
Daizen 3 - 1 Kaiho
Tochinohana 3 - 0 Jumonji
Kitazakura 0 - 0 Chiyotenzan
Akinoshima 13 - 5 Tamakasuga
Tamanoshima 1 - 1 Tochisakae
Tosanoumi 7 - 4 Kyokushuzan
Takanowaka 2 - 1 Otsukasa
Tochiazuma 1 - 0 Asashoryu
Takanonami 2 - 0 Kotomitsuki
Miyabiyama 2 - 2 Toki
Tochinonada 4 - 8 Musoyama
Chiyotaikai 2 - 1 Hayateumi
Kaio 4 - 2 Wakanosato
Higonoumi 3 - 4 Dejima
Kotonowaka 13 - 23 Musashimaru

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