Sumo
TOKYO (AP) - Tochiazuma kept his title hopes alive Saturday with a clutch win over fellow ozeki (champion) Musoyama on the 14th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Tochiazuma stays alive
at New Year sumoFighting in the day's final bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tochiazuma was pushed back to the edge after the face off but spun Musoyama (9-5) around and shoved him out to pick up his 12th win and force a showdown with Chiyotaikai on the final day.
Tochiazuma will need a victory over Chiyotaikai in Sunday's bout to force a playoff.
Ozeki Chiyotaikai, bidding for his first Emperor's Cup in three years, wasted little time in dispatching of Kaio, shoving the ozeki out in a matter of seconds to improve to 13-1. Kaio dropped to 9-5.
Sekiwake (junior champion) Kotomitsuki saw his title hopes go up in smoke when he suffered an upset loss at the hands of No. 8 maegashira (senior wrestler) Buyuzan.
After exchanging a series of arm thrusts, the two wrestlers moved to the edge of the ring where Kotomitsuki lost his footing and was swatted down by the rank-and-file wrestler. Kotomitsuki dropped to 11-3 while Buyuzan improved to 10-4.
Sekiwake Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, was muscled out by No. 7 maegashira Tosanoumi to drop to 8-6. Tosanoumi improved to 9-5.
No. 5 maegashira Kotonowaka drove out Komusubi (junior champion second class) Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, to improve to 8-6. Kyokutenho fell to 5-9 and faces the prospect of demotion for the next tournament.
Top maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayer Davaa, was shoved out by No. 3 maegashira Takanonami to fall to 6-8 and will finish the tournament with a losing record. Takanonami improved to 7-7.
Further down the ranks, No. 15 maegashira Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, was pushed out by No. 9 maegashira Tamakasuga (8-6) to fall to 6-8.
With the loss, Sentoryu will finish with a losing record and may fall down to the 26-member juryo division for the next tourney.
In a juryo division bout, fifth-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, was shoved out by 11th-ranked Sumanofuji (7-7) to drop to 6-8.
TOKYO, Jan. 26 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts for Saturday, the 14th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+ indicates juryo-division wrestler): RESULTS
Won Technique Lost +Takatoriki 8-6 hatakikomi Tochisakae 8-6 Wakanoyama 5-9 uwatedashinage +Kitazakura 6-8 +Aogiyama 5-9 tsukidashi Asanowaka 2-12 Oginishiki 7-7 kotenage Oikari 6-8 Jumonji 6-8 yorikiri Aminishiki 8-6 Tamakasuga 8-6 oshidashi Sentoryu 6-8 Daizen 7-7 yoritaoshi Hamanishiki 8-6 Tokitsuumi 10-4 yorikiri Otsukasa 8-6 Kaiho 4-10 tsukiotoshi Tamarikido 3-11 Tamanoshima 3-11 sotogake Kobo 3-11 Toki 6-8 tsukiotoshi Takanowaka 3-3-8 Takanonami 7-7 oshitaoshi Kyokushuzan 6-8 Akinoshima 5-9 hikiotoshi Dejima 5-9 Wakanosato 7-7 yoritaoshi Tochinonada 7-7 Kotonowaka 8-6 yorikiri Kyokutenho 5-9 Buyuzan 10-4 tsukiotoshi Kotomitsuki 11-3 Tosanoumi 9-5 oshidashi Asashoryu 8-6 Chiyotaikai 13-1 oshitaoshi Kaio 9-5 Tochiazuma 12-2 oshidashi Musoyama 9-5 SUNDAY'S BOUTS
Wakanoyama x - x +Towanoyama Hamanishiki 0 - 0 Oikari +Kitazakura x - x Tamarikido +Takatoriki x - x Kobo Buyuzan 0 - 0 Sentoryu Tochisakae 3 - 1 Otsukasa Tosanoumi 3 - 1 Tokitsuumi Tochinonada 3 - 4 Oginishiki Tamakasuga 9 - 16 Takanonami Kaiho 2 - 1 Jumonji Aminishiki 0 - 2 Toki Tamanoshima 2 - 0 Asanowaka Daizen 7 - 1 Akinoshima Kyokushuzan 3 - 8 Dejima Takanowaka 4 - 1 Kyokutenho Wakanosato 2 - 8 Kotonowaka Kotomitsuki 3 - 2 Asashoryu Chiyotaikai 7 - 8 Tochiazuma Kaio 22 - 15 Musoyama
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Grand Sumo Home Page
Ozumo
CyberSumo.net
Kyodo News Service