Musashimaru rebounds;
Kotomitsuki aims for
first tourney win

TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Kyodo) -- No. 2 maegashira Kotomitsuki disposed of Mongolia's Kyokutenho to notch his 11th win of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday as he took another giant step forward in his hunt to claim his first Emperor's Cup.

Kotomitsuki, who was a disappointing 6-9 in July, is showing no sign of letting up in his charge for the championship as he had the No. 8 maegashira from Mongolia on the defensive from the start of their bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Kotomitsuki wrapped up Kyokutenho (8-4) on the belt at the face-off and then marched the would-be challenger out of then ring to maintain a two-win advantage over ozeki Musoyama and sekiwake Tochiazuma.

The Sadogatake grappler, now 11-1, could wrap up the tournament with a win on Friday over Takanowaka, also a No. 2 maegashira.

Tochiazuma and Musoyama, who both plowed down maegashira opponents to move to 9-3, must continue winning to remain in contention for the tournament hardware.

Musoyama, the tournament's lone remaining ozeki, wasted little time with No. 5 maegashira Tochinonada (6-6), ousting him with a hard shove to the right while lifting him over the straw bales.

Tochiazuma appeared to slip in the middle of the ring but quickly regained his balance to blast out No. 6 maegashira Toki (6-6).

Mongolia's top-ranked maegashira Asashoryu was taken by surprise by Takanowaka (6-6), who spun away from his charge at the edge of the ring, but gathered himself quickly to see the No. 2 maegashira step out under renewed pressure.

In the day's final bout, yokozuna Musashimaru (7-5) rebounded from his fifth loss of the tourney by chasing Kyokushuzan, a No. 6 maegashira from Mongolia, around the ring in a flurry and promptly lifting him out for an easy win.

Former ozeki Dejima (4-8), demoted a rank after the Nagoya basho, appeared to have Tokitsuumi (6-6) on the ropes, but the No. 4 maegashira turned the tables and muscled the sekiwake out to hand him a losing record for a third straight tournament.

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Results

TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Thursday, the 12th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan (+ indicates juryo division wrestler):

Won -- Technique -- Lost
+Kobo 7-5 -- yorikiri -- Wakatsutomu 2-10
Kitazakura 7-5 -- oshidashi -- +Terao 6-6
Chiyotenzan 7-5 -- hikiotoshi -- Daishi 3-9
Oginishiki 6-6 -- yoritaoshi -- Aminishiki 6-6
Akinoshima 7-5 -- uwatedashinage -- Higonoumi 5-7
Wakanoyama 7-5 -- oshidashi -- Otsukasa 6-6
Hamanishiki 8-4 -- okuridashi -- Daizen 6-6
Hayateumi 6-6 -- oshidashi -- Takatoriki 6-6
Tamakasuga 3-9 -- oshidashi -- Kotoryu 6-6
Kotomitsuki 11-1 -- yorikiri -- Kyokutenho 8-4
Kotonowaka 6-6 -- yorikiri -- Takanonami 4-8
Asashoryu 8-4 -- oshidashi -- Takanowaka 6-6
Kaiho 8-4 -- sukuinage -- Wakanosato 5-7
Tamanoshima 6-6 -- kotenage -- Tosanoumi 6-6
Tochiazuma 9-3 -- oshidashi -- Toki 6-6
Tokitsuumi 6-6 -- yorikiri -- Dejima 4-8
Musoyama 9-3 -- oshidashi -- Tochinonada 6-6
Musashimaru 7-5 -- yorikiri -- Kyokushuzan 4-8

Juryo division

Wakatoba (6-6) Sentoryu (6-6)

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Friday's bouts

+Minatofuji x - x Wakatsutomu
Daishi x - x Wakatoryu
Wakanoyama 0 - 0 Kitazakura
Chiyotenzan 5 - 4 Akinoshima
Takatoriki 14 - 4 Oginishiki
Aminishiki 3 - 2 Otsukasa
Hamanishiki 0 - 0 Kotoryu
Hayateumi 0 - 0 Daizen
Kaiho 2 - 4 Kyokutenho
Higonoumi 8 - 7 Tamakasuga
Kotomitsuki 2 - 1 Takanowaka
Tokitsuumi 0 - 2 Asashoryu
Kotonowaka 13 - 8 Tosanoumi
Wakanosato 4 - 2 Takanonami
Kyokushuzan 3 - 7 Dejima
Tochiazuma 10 - 3 Tochinonada
Musoyama 2 - 0 Tamanoshima
Musashimaru 9 - 0 Toki

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