Sumo
TOKYO, Sept. 13 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Musashimaru got his title hopes back on track in convincing fashion Thursday, bulldozing third-ranked maegashira Tosanoumi into oblivion to reclaim a share of the lead at 4-1 in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. Moose is back on track
Maegashira sharpshooters Kotomitsuki and Asashoryu of Mongolia, however, once again stole the thunder of higher-ranked opponents with upset wins on the fifth day of battle at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Defending champion Musashimaru was clearly out to destroy anyone obstructing his route to his first Emperor's Cup of the year after going down to Kotomitsuki 24 hours earlier and showed his opponent little mercy in the day's final bout.
Straight from the charge, the yokozuna quickly marched Tosanoumi to the edge of the ring before unleashing a mighty shove to secure his fourth victory and renew his hopes of ending a 12-month title drought.
The grand champion, stands among a group eight wrestlers on 4-1, including ozeki Musoyama and overnight leader No. 13 maegashira Kitazakura, who fell to his first defeat against 10th-ranked Oginishiki (3-2) in an earlier bout.
At ozeki, Musoyama battled back and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a tough win over No. 1 maegashira Kotonowaka (2-3) while Miyabiyama (2-3) eased his relegation worries by grinding out a win over second-ranked maegashira Takanowaka (3-2).
But Chiyotaikai (2-3) let the ozeki camp down by allowing second-ranked Kotomitsuki (4-1) to quickly haul him down at the face-off as he knocked off another big name in the tourney.
It was a good day for Mongolia in sumo's elite makuuchi division as maegashira top gun Asashoryu and Kyokutenho claimed their fourth wins and trickster Kyokushuzan also emerged victorious with a hard fought win to improve to 3-2.
Brimming with confidence after disposing of three ozeki in his first four bouts, Asashoryu pulled off yet another giant-killing act by sending troubled sekiwake Dejima hurtling into the front row of seats to cement his place among the early leaders.
Under pressure to make a quick return to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki, Dejima now requires eight wins against lower-ranked opponents in his remaining 10 bouts.
Earlier, rank-and-filer Kyokutenho celebrated his 27th birthday in style by blasting out veteran Takanonami (2-3) and former komusubi Kyokushuzan shunted out ninth-ranked Otsukasa (2-3).
TOKYO (AP) - Hawaii yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru bounced back from the previous day's setback with an easy win Thursday, the fifth day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. Musashimaru bags 4th
win at autumn sumoFighting in the day's final bout at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, took charge at the face off and drove No.3 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tosanoumi (1-4) out in a matter of seconds to improve to 4-1.
Musashimaru, who lost to No. 2 maegashira Kotomitsuki on Day Four of the 15-day tournament, is now tied for the lead with seven other wrestlers.
In other major bouts, ozeki (champion) Musoyama had his hands full with Kotonowaka (2-3) but eventually prevailed when he threw the towering top maegashira head first into the dirt surface to improve to 4-1.
Ozeki Miyabiyama rebounded from Wednesday's loss after taking control after the face off and driving No. 2 maegashira Takanowaka (3-2) out to earn only his second victory.
Fellow-ozeki Chiyotaikai, however, wasn't as lucky. He suffered his third straight loss and fell to 2-3 when giant killer Kotomitsuki sidestepped Chiyotaikai and swatted him down to grab a share of the lead.
Top maegashira Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, got his left arm under Dejima and drove the sekiwake (junior champion) into the first row of seats to nail down his fourth win. Dejima, meanwhile, dropped to 2-3.
Kitazakura suffered his first loss when veteran Oginishiki (3-2) got a left hand on Kitazakura's belt and threw the No. 13 maegashira over the straw ridge.
Eighth-ranked maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, marched No. 5 maegashira Takanonami out to join the leaders while handing the veteran grappler his third loss.
No. 6 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayer Davaa, forced Otsukasa (2-3) to the edge where he hoisted the ninth-ranked maegashira over for his third victory against a pair of losses.
TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Thursday, the fifth day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena: Results of main sumo bouts
Winners Losers
Daishi (3-2) Takatoriki (2-3)
Aminishiki (3-2) Hamanishiki (3-2)
Wakatsutomu (1-4) Wakanoyama (2-3)
Oginishiki (3-2) Kitazakura (4-1)
Chiyotenzan (3-2) Daizen (3-2)
Hayateumi (1-4) Akinoshima (1-4)
Toki (3-2) Higonoumi (3-2)
Kyokushuzan (3-2) Otsukasa (2-3)
Kyokutenho (4-1) Takanonami (2-3)
Tokitsuumi (4-1) Tochinonada (2-3)
Kotoryu (3-2) Kaiho (2-3)
Wakanosato (3-2) Tamakasuga (0-5)
Asashoryu (4-1) Dejima (2-3)
Tochiazuma (4-1) Tamanoshima (1-4)
Miyabiyama (2-3) Takanowaka (3-2)
Musoyama (4-1) Kotonowaka (2-3)
Kotomitsuki (4-1) Chiyotaikai (2-3)
Musashimaru (4-1) Tosanoumi (1-4)
Juryo Division
Sentoryu (2-3) Minatofuji (2-3)
Friday's main bouts:
Takatoriki Aminishiki
Wakanoyama Daishi
Wakatsutomu Akinoshima
Higonoumi Kitazakura
Hamanishiki Otsukasa
Kyokutenho Daizen
Hayateumi Chiyotenzan
Kyokushuzan Oginishiki
Toki Tochinonada
Kotoryu Tokitsuumi
Takanonami Tamakasuga
Kaiho Tamanoshima
Tochiazuma Kotomitsuki
Kotonowaka Dejima
Wakanosato Chiyotaikai
Tosanoumi Miyabiyama
Musoyama Takanowaka
Musashimaru Asashoryu
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Grand Sumo Home Page
Ozumo
CyberSumo.net
Kyodo News Service