Musashimaru struggles while
Kotomitsuki cruises
at autumn sumo

TOKYO (AP) - Musashimaru's nightmare continued Wednesday while Kotomitsuki chalked up yet another victory to remain in the driver's seat after the 11th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

In the day's final bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Sumo Arena, yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru, or Hawaiian Fiamalu Penitani, was thrown off balance by No. 5 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tochinonada (6-5) to suffer his fifth loss.

No. 2 maegashira Kotomitsuki, meanwhile, stayed in the lead at 10-1 with an impressive win over Wakanosato (5-6).

After absorbing Wakanosato's charge at the face off, Kotomitsuki got both arms around the komusubi (junior champion second class) and drove him over the straw ridge in a matter of seconds.

With four days left in the tournament, Kotomitsuki is two wins ahead of Musoyama, Tochiazuma and Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav.

Ozeki (champion) Musoyama stayed in contention for the Emperor's Cup with an easy victory over Takanonami (4-7). Musoyama got a hold of Takanonami's belt, spun the helpless No. 5 maegashira around and then bumped him out over the straw ridge for his eighth win.

Sekiwake (junior champion) Tochiazuma stayed two wins off the pace as well when he wisely sidestepped Tokitsuumi (5-6) at the face off and then stood and watched as the fourth-ranked maegashira tumbled down to the dirt surface.

The troubles continued for ozeki Dejima, who was handed his seventh loss of the tourney by No. 4 maegashira Kaiho. With both wrestlers in an arm-lock near the edge of the ring, Kaiho used every bit of strength to flip the stocky ozeki on his side and improve to 7-4.

Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, suffered his second straight loss when Tamanoshima wrapped him up after the face off and then tripped him with his left leg. Asashoryu dropped to 7-4 while Tamanoshima improved to 5-6.

No. 8 maegashira Kyokutenho (8-3) stayed in the hunt with an easy victory over 11th-ranked maegashira Akinoshima. Fellow-Mongolian Kyokushuzan, however, wasn't as fortunate. The No. 6 maegashira was shoved out by No. 3 maegashira Tosanoumi (6-5) for his seventh loss.

No. 2-ranked juryo division wrestler Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, made a rare appearance in the elite makuuchi division and defeated No. 15 maegashira Wakatsutomu (2-9) to pick up his sixth win. (jba-js)

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AUTUMN SUMO

TOKYO, Sept. 19 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Wednesday, the 11th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan (+ indicates juryo division wrestler):

Won Technique Lost

+Sentoryu 6-5 hatakikomi Wakatsutomu 2-9
+Wakakosho 4-7 hatakikomi Daishi 3-8
Hamanishiki 7-4 uwatenage Kitazakura 6-5
Chiyotenzan 6-5 uwatenage Aminishiki 6-5
Otsukasa 6-5 hikiotoshi Takatoriki 6-5
Wakanoyama 6-5 yoritaoshi Higonoumi 5-6
Kyokutenho 8-3 hatakikomi Akinoshima 6-5
Kotoryu 6-5 oshidashi Daizen 6-5
Toki 6-5 oshidashi Oginishiki 5-6
Hayateumi 5-6 tottari Tamakasuga 2-9
Tosanoumi 6-5 oshidashi Kyokushuzan 4-7
Kotonowaka 5-6 yorikiri Takanowaka 6-5
Tamanoshima 5-6 sotogake Asashoryu 7-4
Kotomitsuki 10-1 yorikiri Wakanosato 5-6
Kaiho 7-4 sukuinage Dejima 4-7
Tochiazuma 8-3 uwatedashinage Tokitsuumi 5-6
Musoyama 8-3 yorikiri Takanonami 4-7
Tochinonada 6-5 shitatenage Musashimaru 6-5

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Thursday's bouts

+Kobo x - x Wakatsutomu
Kitazakura x - x +Terao
Chiyotenzan 0 - 0 Daishi
Aminishiki 0 - 1 Oginishiki
Higonoumi 8 - 12 Akinoshima
Wakanoyama 1 - 1 Otsukasa
Hamanishiki 0 - 1 Daizen
Hayateumi 2 - 1 Takatoriki
Kotoryu 3 - 5 Tamakasuga
Kotomitsuki 1 - 1 Kyokutenho
Kotonowaka 18 - 28 Takanonami
Takanowaka 1 - 2 Asashoryu
Wakanosato 5 - 1 Kaiho
Tosanoumi 1 - 1 Tamanoshima
Tochiazuma 4 - 0 Toki
Tokitsuumi 1 - 1 Dejima
Musoyama 9 - 4 Tochinonada
Musashimaru 13 - 1 Kyokushuzan

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