Musashimaru undefeated
and in control at spring
sumo tournament

OSAKA, Japan (AP) - Yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru easily shoved out lower-ranked Wakanosato on Sunday to keep a perfect 8-0 record and the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

Fighting in the final bout on the eighth day of the 15-day tourney, Musashimaru brushed aside a clinch attempt by the No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) and wrapped him up for an overwhelming push. Wakanosato fell to 4-4.

In other major bouts at Osaka's Prefectural Gymnasium, ozeki (champion) Kaio drove Kyokushuzan to the ringside and dispatched the struggling No. 3 maegashira to notch his seventh win against one loss. Kyokushuzan - Mongolian-born Batbayer Davaa - dropped to 1-7.

Another Mongolian, sekiwake (junior champion) Asashoryu, or Dlgorsvren Dagradji, toppled ozeki Chiyotaikai after sidestepping him at the faceoff. Chiyotaikai suffered his fourth defeat against four wins.

Ozeki Tochiazuma, who won January's New Year tourney, forced out No. 4 maegashira Akinoshima with a series of powerful arm thrusts to the chest. Tochiazuma improved to 6-2 and Akinoshima slid to 4-4.

Komusubi (junior champion second class) Takanonami slipped away from a ringside push by ozeki Musoyama, sending the champion tumbling out of the ring. Takanonami bettered his record to 4-4 while Musoyama fell to 5-3.

Sekiwake Kotomitsuki, who came into the spring tournament with hopes of promotion to ozeki, muscled out Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegynyam Nyamjav, for his fourth victory against four losses. Kyokutenho dropped to 1-7.

SPRING SUMO

OSAKA, March 17 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi-division bouts Sunday, the eighth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (+ denotes juryo-division wrestler):

Won		Technique	Lost
+Jumonji	6-2	yorikiri	Tamarikido	1-7
Wakanoyama	5-3	oshidashi	Shimotori	5-3
Oikari	4-4	tsukiotoshi	Takatoriki	3-5
Takanowaka	6-2	yorikiri	Takamisakari	5-3
Tochisakae	3-5	tsukiotoshi	Oginishiki	3-5
Tamanoshima	3-5	oshidashi	Daizen	4-4
Tamakasuga	4-4	oshidashi	Hamanishiki	4-4
Kaiho	5-3	yoritaoshi	Aminishiki	5-3
Toki	6-2	hikiotoshi	Dejima	3-5
Miyabiyama	4-4	default	Tokitsuumi	2-6
Otsukasa	6-2	yorikiri	Kotonowaka	3-5
Tochinonada	3-5	oshidashi	Tosanoumi	3-5
Kotomitsuki	4-4	yorikiri	Kyokutenho	1-7
Takanonami	4-4	uwatehineri	Musoyama	5-3
Asashoryu	5-3	ketaguri	Chiyotaikai	4-4
Tochiazuma	6-2	oshitaoshi	Akinoshima	3-5
Kaio	7-1	yorikiri	Kyokushuzan	1-7
Musashimaru	8-0	yorikiri	Wakanosato	4-4

Monday's bouts

Tamarikido	x	-	x	+Kitazakura
+Kotoryu	x	-	x	Takatoriki
Takamisakari	0	-	0	Oginishiki
Hamanishiki	3	-	0	Wakanoyama
Oikari	0	-	2	Daizen
Takanowaka	6	-	2	Kaiho
Miyabiyama	1	-	0	Tochisakae
Shimotori	0	-	0	Tamakasuga
Dejima	1	-	2	Tamanoshima
Tochinonada	0	-	1	Aminishiki
Kyokutenho	0	-	2	Tosanoumi
Wakanosato	6	-	3	Takanonami
Kotomitsuki	4	-	2	Asashoryu
Otsukasa	0	-	0	Kaio
Musoyama	21	-	11	Kotonowaka
Akinoshima	3	-	9	Chiyotaikai
Tochiazuma	11	-	1	Kyokushuzan
Musashimaru	11	-	0	Toki

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