Musashimaru comes back but
Kotomitsuki leads autumn sumo

TOKYO (AP) - Yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru bounced back from Saturday's upset loss but it was rising star Kotomitsuki who was the focus of attention on Sunday, the eighth day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Fighting in the day's final bout at Ryogoku Sumo Arena, Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, fought off a determined effort by fourth-ranked maegashira (senior wrestler) Tokitsuumi, who came in low and forced the Hawaii wrestler back a few steps.

Musashimaru managed to get both arms around Tokitsuumi's arm and muscled his opponent out over the edge, leaving both wrestlers with a record of 5-3.

The day's featured bout, however, came much earlier when tournament leaders Kotomitsuki, a No. 2 maegashira, and top maegashira Asashoryu squared off.

After a prolonged standoff, Kotomitsuki finally got a hold of Asashoryu's belt with his right hand and forced the Mongolian-born wrestler over the ridge to move into sole possession of the lead at 7-1.

"I didn't worry too much about what he was going to do and just tried to stick to my style of sumo," said Kotomitsuki, adding that it was still to early to get excited about being in the lead. Asashoryu fell to 6-2.

Second-ranked maegashira Kaiho, fresh off his defeat of Musashimaru on Saturday, sidestepped Musoyama shortly after the face off and slapped the charging ozeki down for his second upset victory in as many days. Both wrestlers have 5-3 records.

Ozeki Dejima (4-4) suffered his fourth defeat after Komusubi (junior champion second class) Wakanosato grabbed his belt with both hands shortly after the face off and used his size advantage to lift the smaller wrestler over the edge while evening his record at 4-4.

The woes also continued for ozeki Miyabiyama who was shoved out by No.5 maegashira Takanonami (3-5). At 3-5, Miyabiyama will need a major turn of events to post a winning record and avoid demotion for the next tournament.

Chiyotaikai (4-4) became the third ozeki to lose Sunday, coming out on the losing end of a slap-fest with No. 3 maegashira Tosanoumi. After a barrage of arm thrusts to the face and neck, Tosanoumi shoved his opponent out to pick up his fourth win.

Results of main sumo bouts

TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Sunday, the eighth day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena:

Winners Losers

Wakanoyama (5-3) Aminishiki (4-4)
Chiyotenzan (5-3) Wakatsutomu (1-7)
Oginishiki (5-3) Daishi (3-5)
Hamanishiki (4-4) Higonoumi (4-4)
Akinoshima (4-4) Otsukasa (4-4)
Takatoriki (4-4) Kyokutenho (5-3)
Daizen (6-2) Kitazakura (5-3)
Hayateumi (3-5) Kotoryu (4-4)
Kyokushuzan (4-4) Toki (3-5)
Takanowaka (4-4) Tamakasuga (1-7)
Kotomitsuki (7-1) Asashoryu (6-2)
Tamanoshima (4-4) Tochinonada (3-5)
Tochiazuma (5-3) Kotonowaka (3-5)
Wakanosato (4-4) Dejima (4-4)
Takanonami (3-5) Miyabiyama (3-5)
Kaiho (5-3) Musoyama (5-3)
Tosanoumi (4-4) Chiyotaikai (4-4)
Musashimaru (5-3) Tokitsuumi (5-3)

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Juryo Division

Sentoryu (4-4) Terao (4-4)

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Monday's main bouts:

Asanowaka Wakatsutomu
Takatoriki Sentoryu (juryo)
Wakanoyama Hamanishiki
Daishi Akinoshima
Aminishiki Daizen
Kyokutenho Kitazakura
Chiyotenzan Kotoryu
Hayateumi Oginishiki
Otsukasa Toki
Kyokushuzan Higonoumi
Tosanoumi Takanowaka
Kotonowaka Tochinonada
Kotomitsuki Tamanoshima
Wakanosato Asashoryu
Tochiazuma Dejima
Takanonami Chiyotaikai
Kaiho Miyabiyama
Musoyama Tokitsuumi
Musashimaru Tamakasuga

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Grand Sumo Home Page
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CyberSumo.net
Kyodo News Service