Kotomitsuki survives scare
at New year sumo

TOKYO (AP) - Ozeki hopeful Kotomitsuki maintained his composure Sunday to post an impressive win over Chiyotenzan and remain undefeated and tied for the lead after eight days at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Sekiwake (junior champion) Kotomitsuki was given a scare when Chiyotenzan (3-5) forced him to the edge and almost threw him to the dirt surface with an arm throw.

But showing all the balance of a flamingo, Kotomitsuki deftly perched himself along the straw ridge, regained his footing and then emphatically shoved the fourth-ranked maegashira into the first row of seats at Ryogoku Kokugikan to improve to 8-0.

Newly promoted ozeki (champion) Tochiazuma held on to his share of the lead after a hard-fought win over komusubi (junior champion second class) Wakanosato.

In the day's final bout, Wakanosato (5-3) got a grip of Tochiazuma's belt midway through the bout but Tochiazuma fought back and drove his opponent out to maintain his unblemished record.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai assured himself of the winning record he needs to avoid demotion with a convincing win over No. 4 maegashira Dejima (3-5). After exchanging a series of slaps and thrusts, Chiyotaikai put his opponent away with one final shove to remain tied with the leaders.

Ozeki Musoyama improved to 5-3 with a win over veteran No. 4 maegashira Takanonami, who dropped to 5-3.

Top maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayer Davaa, spun Toki around several times and then got his hand under the chin of the towering No. 3 maegashira and heaved him over the straw ridge for only his second win of the tournament. Toki dropped to 2-6.

In a battle of Mongolian grapplers, sekiwake Asashoryu, or Dolgorsvren Dagvadri, went for the jugular and drove Kyokutenho, or Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, out with a series of powerful arm thrusts to the throat of the helpless komusubi.

Asashoryu evened his record at 4-4 while Kyokutenho continues to struggle and now stands at 1-7.

Rank-and-file maegashira Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, was shoved out by Takatoriki (5-3) to fall to 3-5 while Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, tripped up Kitazakura (2-6) to improve to 5-3 in the juryo division.

RESULTS OF MAIN SUMO BOUTS

TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Sunday, the eighth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena:

Winners Losers

Takatoriki (juryo)	(5-3) Sentoryu (3-5)
Tochisakae (6-2)	Hamanishiki (6-2)
Tokitsuumi (5-3)	Jumonji (3-5)
Oikari (4-4)	Wakanoyama (3-5)
Aminishiki (5-3)	Asanowaka (1-7)
Oginishiki (5-3)	Tamarikido (2-6)
Daizen (4-4)	Kobo (1-7)
Tosanoumi (6-2)	Buyuzan (5-3)
Tochinonada (6-2)	Tamakasuga (5-3)
Kotonowaka (3-5)	Otsukasa (3-5)
Kyokushuzan (2-6)	Toki (2-6)
Akinoshima (2-6)	Tamanoshima (1-7)
Kotomitsuki (8-0)	Chiyotenzan (3-5)
Asashoryu (4-4)	Kyokutenho (1-7)
Chiyotaikai (8-0)	Dejima (3-5)
Musoyama (5-3)	Takanonami (5-3)
Kaio (6-2)	Kaiho (2-6)
Tochiazuma (8-0)	Wakanosato (5-3)

Juryo Division

Kuniazuma (5-3)

Kitazakura (2-6)

Monday's main bouts

Sentoryu	Shimotori (juryo)
Jumonji	Oikari
Aminishiki	Tokitsuumi
Asanowaka	Kobo
Tamakasuga	Oginishiki
Wakanoyama	Daizen
Tamarikido	Otsukasa
Tosanoumi	Tochisakae
Tochinonada	Hamanishiki
Buyuzan	Kotonowaka
Kaiho	Dejima
Kyokushuzan	Tamanoshima
Akinoshima	Kyokutenho
Wakanosato	Asashoryu
Toki	Tochiazuma
Chiyotaikai	Takanonami
Chiyotenzan	Musoyama
Kaio	Kotomitsuki

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