Kotomitsuki wins autumn
tournament at 13-2

TOKYO (AP) - Kotomitsuki, who already had clinched his first tournament championship, ended the Autumn Grand Sumo tournament with a 13-2 record, losing to lower ranked Tokitsuumi on Sunday.

Hawaiian-born yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, also lost and wound up the 15-day tournament with a 9-6 record.

Wrestling before a full-capacity crowd of 11,000 spectators at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tokitsuumi grabbed Kotomitsuki's belt and quickly twisted him down for his ninth victory against six defeats.

"It is still unbelievable to win the championship...I could make my own sumo. That led me to win the championship," said the 25-year-old Kotomitsuki, who won 10 million yen (dlrs 85,000) in prize money.

He also won his second outstanding performance prize and fourth technical prize. Each award is worth 2 million yen (dlrs 17,000).

Kotomitsuki clinched the championship on Saturday, when he threw down No. 4 maegashira Kaiho for a 13-1 record that was two victories ahead of his closest rival - sekiwake (junior champion) Tochiazuma (11-3) - with one day left in the tournament.

In the day's final bout, Tochiazuma charged Musashimaru with an arm throw attempt and sent him out from behind when Musashimaru lost his balance. Tochiazuma wound up the tournament at 12-3.

Komusubi (junior champion second class) Wakanosato pushed down ozeki (champion) Musoyama and ended at 7-8. Musoyama finished at 10-5.

No. 1 maegashira Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, charged No. 8 maegashira Kyokutenho with fierce hand thrusts against his opponent's throat and forced him out. Asashoryu won his first fighting spirit awards worth 2 million yen (dlrs 17,000) for his 10-5 record.

Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, ended at 9-6.

In other major bouts, Kaiho sidestepped to the left in the initial charge and tossed down No. 1 maegashira Kotonowaka. Kaiho received his first technical prize for his 10-5 record. Kotonowaka ended at 7-8.

No. 6 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, threw down No. 15 maegashira Wakatsutomu (3-12) and finished at 6-9.

Kyokushuzan, however, may be demoted before the next tournament in Kyushu from Nov. 11-25 because of his losing records.

In the 26-member juryo division just below the senior makuuchi division, No.2-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller ended at 7-8, losing to No. 10-ranked Towanoyama (8-7).

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AUTUMN SUMO

TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Sunday, the final day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan (+ indicates juryo division wrestler):

Won Technique Lost

Kitazakura 8-7 -- yorikiri -- Otsukasa 7-8

Oginishiki 8-7 -- yorikiri -- Higonoumi 5-10

Daizen 9-6 -- tsukiotoshi -- Takatoriki 6-9

Kotoryu 9-6 -- okuridashi -- Wakanoyama 8-7

Toki 7-8 -- tsukidashi -- Hamanishiki 8-7

Kyokushuzan 6-9 -- uwatedashinage -- Wakatsutomu 3-12

Tochinonada 8-7 -- yoritaoshi -- Akinoshima 9-6

Daishi 5-10 -- oshidashi -- Takanonami 5-10

Tamakasuga 5-10 -- oshidashi -- Chiyotenzan 8-7

Tosanoumi 8-7 -- tsukiotoshi -- Aminishiki 7-8

Takanowaka 8-7 -- tsukiotoshi -- Hayateumi 6-9

Tokitsuumi 9-6 -- kainahineri -- Kotomitsuki 13-2

Asashoryu 10-5 -- yorikiri -- Kyokutenho 9-6

Kaiho 10-5 -- tsukiotoshi -- Kotonowaka 7-8

Tamanoshima 7-8 -- yorikiri -- Dejima 5-10

Wakanosato 7-8 -- tsukiotoshi -- Musoyama 10-5

Tochiazuma 12-3 -- okuridashi -- Musashimaru 9-6

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Division winners

Makuuchi -- Kotomitsuki, Sadogatake stable, 13-2

Juryo -- Aogiyama, Tokitsukaze stable, 12-3 (playoff)

Makushita -- Hokutoarashi, Hakkaku stable, 7-0

Sandamme -- Wakanojo, Magaki stable, 7-0

Jonidan -- Chiyotsukumo, Kokonoe stable, 7-0

Jonokuchi -- Daishochi, Shibatayama stable, 6-1 (playoff)

(Note: Wrestlers in sumo's four junior divisions compete in only seven bouts during the tournament.)

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Special awards for makuuchi division wrestlers

Outstanding Performance Award -- Kotomitsuki, Sadogatake stable (2nd)

Technique Prize -- Kotomitsuki, Sadogatake stable (4th); Kaiho, Hakkaku stable (1st)

Fighting Spirit Prize -- Asashoryu, Wakamatsu stable (1st)

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