Musashimaru grabs solo
lead at 9-0 in Kysushu
Grand Sumo tourney

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) - Hawaii-born yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru grabbed the solo lead at 9-0 as his rival Hayateumi suffered his first defeat on Monday, the ninth day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo tournament.

One victory behind Musashimaru at 8-1 were sekiwake (junior champion) Tochiazuma, No. 10 maegashira (senior wrestler) Hayateumi and No. 10 maegashira Takanonami.

Wrestling at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Musashimaru - born Fiamalu Penitani - held off No. 5 maegashira Kyokutenho's initial charge and forced him out of the ring, leaving the Mongolian wrestler - whose real name is Tsevegnyam Nyamjav - at 5-4.

Tochiazuma slapped down equally ranked Kotomitsuki after the initial collision, dropping Kotomitsuki to 4-5.

Takanonami charged Hayateumi and downed him with a leg trick, leaving both wrestlers at 8-1. Hayateumi was unable to walk out of the ring under his own power as he suffered injuries on his left knee and neck.

In other major bouts, No. 3 maegashira Dejima bulldozed out ozeki (champion) Kaio for his fourth victory against five defeats. Kaio is 5-4.

Ozeki Musoyama fought off No. 7 maegashira Toki's hand thrusts and dispatched him, leaving both wrestlers at 6-3.

Komusubi (junior champion second class) Asashoryu - Dolgorsvren Dagvadri of Mongolia - thrust down No. 1 maegashira Tamanoshima for his sixth victory against three defeats. Tamanoshima is 2-7.

No. 9 maegashira Kyokushuzan - Mongolian Batbayar Davaa - defeated No. 11 maegashira Otsukasa with a neck throw for his seventh victory against two defeats. Otsukasa is 5-4.

In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 3-ranked Oikari drove out No.4 ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos. Oikari is 7-2 and Kuniazuma 5-4.

No. 2-ranked Jumonji forced out No. 3-ranked Sentoryu, American Henry Armstrong Miller, leaving both wrestlers at 4-5.

Results of main sumo bouts

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

Winners -- Losers
Tamarikido (5-4) -- Kobo (3-6)
Aogiyama (3-6) -- Buyuzan (5-4)
Aminishiki (6-3) -- Tochisakae (3-6)
Higonoumi (4-5) -- Hamanishiki (2-7)
Takanonami (8-1) -- Hayateumi (8-1)
Kyokushuzan (7-2) -- Otsukasa (5-4)
Chiyotenzan (4-5) -- Kitazakura (3-6)
Tamakasuga (4-5) -- Oginishiki (1-8)
Akinoshima (4-5) -- Wakanoyama (5-4)
Tochinonada (5-4) -- Kotonowaka (5-4)
Daizen (4-5) -- Tokitsuumi (1-8)
Wakanosato (4-5) -- Tosanoumi (2-7)
Kaiho (5-4) -- Takanowaka (2-7)
Asashoryu (6-3) -- Tamanoshima (2-7)
Tochiazuma (8-1) -- Kotomitsuki (4-5)
Dejima (4-5) -- Kaio (5-4)
Musoyama (6-3) -- Toki (6-3)
Musashimaru (9-0) -- Kyokutenho (5-4)

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Juryo Division
Oikari (7-2) -- Kuniazuma (5-4)
Jumonji (4-5) -- Sentoryu (4-5)

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

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