Sumo
Asashoryu unbeaten,
Musashimaru upsetFUKUOKA, Nov. 14 (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Musashimaru crashed to his first defeat at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday, slipping up once again against long-time rival Takanonami.
But ozeki Asashoryu showed no signs of slowing down, taking sole possession of the lead after maintaining his perfect record with a no-nonsense win over Tamakasuga at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
The final bout of the day brought together the two veterans for the 57th time in sumo's elite division, with Musashimaru looking for revenge after an opening-day defeat at the Autumn sumo meet in September.
But it was the top-ranked maegashira Takanonami who took the honors for the 20th time.
As the grand champion moved in to muscle out the former ozeki, Takanonami attempted to wriggle free and claimed the victory when Musashimaru stepped outside the bales to leave both wrestlers at 4-1.
After posting eight straight wins to open his debut tournament as ozeki last time out, fiery Mongolian Asashoryu (5-0) stayed on course to repeat the feat after easing past winless Tamakasuga.
The ozeki never looked in danger of an upset, working the hapless No. 3 maegashira to the bales from the charge before a sharp thrust dumped him in the dirt.
With yokozuna Takanohana and Kaio absent, Nagoya champion Chiyotaikai is widely predicted to push hard for a second Emperor's Cup of the year.
The ozeki barely broke sweat in notching a fourth win over Tamanoshima (0-5), blasting the No. 3 maegashira back out of the ring in a matter of seconds.
Also staying just one off the pace at 4-1 was Musoyama, who overpowered feisty Takamisakari (3-2).
A fearsome charge knocked the No. 4 maegashira to the straw bales from the charge, and the ozeki bumped him out for the simple win.
However, little is going right for struggling Tochiazuma, who dropped to 1-4 and is in danger of losing his ozeki status after a third straight defeat at the hands of komusubi Kyokutenho (3-2).
Needing eight victories to stay at sumo's second rank, the 26-year-old looked out of sorts and hit the dirt against the Mongolian.
Elsewhere, komusubi Takanowaka (3-2) had little trouble with ozeki hopeful Kotomitsuki, getting up at the Sadogatake stable grappler with some powerful thrusts before slapping the sekiwake down to a third early loss.
Results
Won Technique Lost Jumonji 4-1 hatakikomi Asanowaka 2-3 Tamarikido 3-2 uwatedashinage Tochisakae 0-5 Aogiyama 2-3 tsukidashi Tochinohana 1-4 Akinoshima 4-1 yorikiri Iwakiyama 3-2 Buyuzan 1-4 oshidashi Kotonowaka 2-3 Ushiomaru 3-2 okuridashi Tokitsuumi 3-2 Kaiho 2-3 yorikiri Kotoryu 2-3 Dejima 3-2 yorikiri Tochinonada 3-2 Shimotori 3-2 okuridashi Wakanoyama 2-3 Toki 3-2 yoritaoshi Kyokushuzan 2-3 Aminishiki 4-1 oshidashi Gojoro 2-3 Miyabiyama 3-2 hatakikomi Tosanoumi 2-3 Takanowaka 3-2 hatakikomi Kotomitsuki 2-3 Hokutoriki 1-4 oshidashi Wakanosato 1-4 Musoyama 4-1 oshidashi Takamisakari 3-2 Asashoryu 5-0 tsukiotoshi Tamakasuga 0-5 Chiyotaikai 4-1 tsukidashi Tamanoshima 0-5 Kyokutenho 3-2 uwatenage Tochiazuma 1-4 Takanonami 4-1 shitatenage Musashimaru 4-1
Friday's bouts
Tamarikido 1 - 0 Aogiyama Tochinohana 4 - 2 Akinoshima Buyuzan 0 - 1 Asanowaka Dejima 1 - 0 Jumonji Kotonowaka 0 - 0 Iwakiyama Tochisakae 5 - 2 Wakanoyama Toki 0 - 0 Ushiomaru Kyokushuzan 5 - 8 Kotoryu Aminishiki 1 - 1 Shimotori Takamisakari 2 - 1 Tokitsuumi Tochinonada 3 - 2 Gojoro Tamakasuga 6 - 6 Kaiho Wakanosato 7 - 4 Tosanoumi Miyabiyama 3 - 4 Kotomitsuki Tochiazuma 0 - 0 Hokutoriki Tamanoshima 1 - 4 Musoyama Asashoryu 6 - 2 Takanonami Kyokutenho 1 - 4 Chiyotaikai Musashimaru 9 - 1 Takanowaka
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