Sumo
TOKYO, Sept. 21 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Takanohana scored a hard-fought win against ozeki Kaio in a meeting between joint leaders Saturday to set up a mega-showdown with rival grand champion Musashimaru on the final day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. Musashimaru to face
Takanohana for titleFrom staff and wire reports
In the day's finale, Takanohana (12-2) struggled to get a firm grip on the belt of his elusive opponent but finally set Kaio up for his infamous over-the-arm throw, knocking the ozeki to his third loss and out of contention for the prized Emperor's Cup.
Yokozuna Musashimaru (12-2) prevailed over Chiyotaikai (10-4) with an elbow-clamp force-out, using his massive body to belly the ozeki over the bales after a power struggle at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Musashimaru appeared headed for a clear victory from the start as he pushed Chiyotaikai to the edge but the ozeki held on and fought back with some shoves of his own before the massive Samoan eventually claimed victory to improve to 12-2 and drop Chiyotaikai to 10-4.
Musashimaru's win over Chiyotaikai today will force a winner-take-all bout against fellow yokozuna Takanohana tomorrow at the Autumn tournament. Seventh-ranked Kotomitsuki (11-3) continued his surge with a convincing win over Asashoryu (9-5), driving the Mongolian ozeki to the bales with an underarm throw after a long tussle at center-ring.
Ozeki Musoyama (8-6) had to get out of jail in a struggle with Wakanosato (8-6) but used a well-timed twist down to notch a winning record and keep rank.
Eleventh-ranked Mongolian maegashira Kyokushuzan (8-6) secured a winning record by slapping down 10th-ranked Kasuganishiki (5-9). Compatriot Kyokutenho (7-7) evened out his record with a crisp takedown of sekiwake Tosanoumi (6-8).
Musashimaru is seeking to surpass another Hawaii-born sumotori Akebono, or Chad Rowan, with his 12th career Emperor's Cup. It would be his third tournament win in the past four events.
Day 14
(+denotes juryo-division wrestler):
Won Technique Lost +Tamarikido 10-4 okuridashi Daizen 3-11 Kyokushuzan 8-6 hatakikomi Kasuganishiki 5-9 Wakanoyama 8-6 oshidashi Tamakasuga 10-4 Tochinohana 7-7 oshidashi Aminishiki 7-7 Akinoshima 7-7 oshidashi Hokutoriki 8-6 Asanowaka 7-7 oshidashi Tokitsuumi 6-8 Ushiomaru 8-6 yorikiri Tamanoshima 7-7 Otsukasa 4-10 hikiotoshi Tochisakae 2-8-4 Toki 4-10 okuridashi Shimotori 4-10 Takanowaka 8-6 hatakikomi Miyabiyama 6-8 Gojoro 7-7 hatakikomi Tochinonada 4-10 Takamisakari 4-10 yorikiri Buyuzan 5-9 Kotoryu 4-10 katasukashi Takanonami 6-8 Kyokutenho 7-7 hatakikomi Tosanoumi 6-8 Kotomitsuki 11-3 shitatenage Asashoryu 9-5 Musoyama 8-6 tsukiotoshi Wakanosato 8-6 Musashimaru 12-2 kimedashi Chiyotaikai 10-4 Takanohana 12-2 uwatenage Kaio 11-3
Sunday's bouts
Akinoshima 2 - 3 Tochinohana +Oikari x - x Otsukasa Daizen x - x +Takanotsuru +Iwakiyama x - x Kasuganishiki Asanowaka 1 - 5 Gojoro Ushiomaru 0 - 0 Aminishiki Hokutoriki 1 - 0 Wakanoyama Kyokushuzan 1 - 1 Buyuzan Tokitsuumi 3 - 5 Toki Shimotori 2 - 0 Tochisakae Kyokutenho 2 - 3 Tochinonada Miyabiyama 10 - 0 Tamakasuga Takanowaka 1 - 3 Takanonami Takamisakari 1 - 0 Kotoryu Tamanoshima 3 - 1 Tosanoumi Wakanosato 4 - 5 Kotomitsuki Asashoryu 4 - 3 Musoyama Chiyotaikai 11 - 10 Kaio Musashimaru 18 - 29 Takanohana
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