Musashimaru wins opening bout,
Kotomitsuki suffers upset defeat

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) - Hawaiian-born yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru scored a victory on Sunday, the opening day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo tournament.

But ozeki (champion) Kaio suffered an upset defeat along with sekiwake (junior champion) Kotomitsuki, who won the previous tournament in September.

Yokozuna Takanohana stayed out of the current tournament because of knee injuries. Two ozekis Chiyotaikai and Miyabiyama also were absent from the tournament because of foot injuries.

In the day's final bout, Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, charged at komusubi (junior champion second class) Kaiho with a series of hand thrusts and slapped him down.

Kaio attempted to drive out No. 1 maegashira Tamanoshima, but Tamanoshima fought off Kaio's charge with a leg trick and threw him down.

Kotomitsuki, seeking a promotion to ozeki, the second highest rank in sumo, was forced out by No. 2 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tosanoumi after they wrangled in mid-ring.

In other major bouts, sekiwake Tochiazuma, also seeking the promotion to ozeki, threw down No. 2 maegashira Takanowaka and ozeki Musoyama pulled down No. 1 maegashira Wakanosato.

Komusubi Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, went at No. 3 maegashira Tokitsuumi with a series of hand thrusts and pushed him down.

No. 5 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, crushed down No. 6 maegashira Daizen. Kyokutenho was promoted to the present rank from No. 8 maegashira in the previous tournament.

No. 9 maegashira Kyokushuzan fought off No. 8 maegashria Chiyotenzan's driving attempt at the ring and cast him to the floor. Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, fell to the present level from No. 6 maegashira because of his 6-9 record in the previous tournament.

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 4-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, threw out equally ranked Daishi.

Kuniazuma stayed away from the previous tournament in September because of injuries.

No. 3-ranked Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, lost his opening day bout when he was slapped down by equally ranked Oikari. Sentoryu was demoted to the present rank from No. 2 because of a losing 7-8 record in the previous tournament.

Results of main sumo bouts

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) - Results of main bouts Sunday, the opening day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center:

Winners -- Losers

Buyuzan -- Takatoriki (juryo)
Aminishiki -- Tamarikido
Kobo -- Higonoumi
Tochisakae -- Aogiyama
Kitazakura -- Hamanishiki
Hayateumi -- Otsukasa
Takanonami -- Wakanoyama
Kyokushuzan Chiyotenzan
Toki -- Oginishiki
Akinoshima -- Tamakasuga
Kyokutenho -- Daizen
Kotoryu -- Tochinonada
Dejima -- Kotonowaka
Asashoryu -- Tokitsuumi
Tosanoumi -- Kotomitsuki
Tochiazuma -- Takanowaka
Tamanoshima -- Kaio
Musoyama -- Wakanosato
Musashimaru -- Kaiho

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Juryo Division

Monday's main bouts

Tamarikido Asanowaka
Aogiyama Kobo
Buyuzan Higonoumi
Hamanishiki Aminishiki
Tochisakae Hayateumi
Kyokushuzan Kitazakura
Otsukasa Wakanoyama
Takanonami Chiyotenzan
Oginishiki Akinoshima
Kotoryu Toki
Tamakasuga Kyokutenho
Daizen Tochinonada
Kotonowaka Tamanoshima
Wakanosato Kaiho
Tochiazuma Dejima
Tokitsuumi Kotomitsuki
Musoyama Asashoryu
Kaio Takanowaka
Musashimaru Tosanoumi

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