Sumo
Asashoryu stays unbeaten
in Kyushu sumoFUKUOKA, Nov. 19 (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Asashoryu laid out another victim Tuesday in No. 5 maegashira Shimotori as his sumo inferno only got hotter to remain the only unbeaten wrestler on the 10th day at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu, who is vying for his first Emperor's Cup, rebounded from the brink of a loss to earn his 10th win in a rematch as he moved two ahead of closest challenger Akinoshima (8-2) and three in front of ozeki Musoyama and four others at 7-3.
In the day's finale, Asashoryu quickly gained the advantage as he clasped the belt of Shimotori (6-4) from behind and maneuvered him to the edge for the coup de grace at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Asashoryu pressed forward but both wrestlers sailed over the bales with their body parts touching simultaneously and the judges ordered a rematch.
The pugnacious Mongolian wasted little time the second time round, hemming up Shimotori on the edge of the bales in an arm-lock before twisting sideways and flattening him with an emphatic, yet discourteous, slap to the back.
Musoyama was a little rattled and bloody above the eye in a slapfest with fourth-ranked maegashira Gojoro but kept his composure enough to employ a rear-push out to stay three off the pace.
Tochiazuma (6-4) appeared in trouble against Takamisakari (5-5) as the fourth-ranked maegashira gained leverage by twisting both arms upward, but the ozeki turned the tables for a convincing frontal crush-out.
The win pulled Tochiazuma within two wins of avoiding relegation from sumo's second highest rank.
Komusubi Takanowaka shocked Takanonami when he darted forth from his crouch and blasted the top-ranked maegashira over the bales in matter of seconds, leaving both wrestlers at 7-3.
Veteran stalwart Akinoshima used a deft arm-lock technique to yank No. 8 maegashira Aminishiki (6-4) down to the clay, giving the 14th-rank wrestler his first winning record in a year.
Fifth-ranked Mongolian Kyokushuzan (3-7) had a weak defense for the storming sekiwake Wakanosato (4-6), who disposed of his opponent with a businesslike but solid frontal force-out.
Results
Won Technique Lost +Komahikari 6-4 yorikiri Asanowaka 4-6 +Otsukasa 8-2 yorikiri Aogiyama 3-7 +Kobo 6-4 yorikiri Tamarikido 4-6 Tochinohana 3-7 oshidashi Buyuzan 3-7 Jumonji 6-4 yorikiri Kotonowaka 6-4 Kaiho 6-4 shitatedashinage Wakanoyama 5-5 Akinoshima 8-2 kotenage Aminishiki 6-4 Dejima 7-3 oshidashi Toki 6-4 Iwakiyama 7-3 watashikomi Tokitsuumi 6-4 Kotoryu 4-6 default Ushiomaru 3-7 Tamanoshima 2-8 yorikiri Tochinonada 5-5 Miyabiyama 4-6 yorikiri Tamakasuga 1-9 Hokutoriki 3-7 hatakikomi Tosanoumi 4-6 Takanowaka 7-3 yorikiri Takanonami 7-3 Wakanosato 4-6 oshidashi Kyokushuzan 3-7 Kotomitsuki 5-5 yorikiri Kyokutenho 4-6 Tochiazuma 6-4 yoritaoshi Takamisakari 5-5 Musoyama 7-3 okuridashi Gojoro 3-7 Asashoryu 10-0 uwatedashinage Shimotori 6-4
Wednesday's bouts
+Takanotsuru x - x Aogiyama +Kasuganishiki x - x Jumonji Tamarikido 0 - 0 Iwakiyama Dejima 13 - 8 Akinoshima Asanowaka 3 - 4 Aminishiki Kaiho 3 - 0 Tochinohana Kotonowaka 4 - 2 Tokitsuumi Buyuzan 1 - 0 Kotoryu Toki 2 - 0 Shimotori Wakanoyama 1 - 3 Tamanoshima Tamakasuga 2 - 0 Hokutoriki Takanonami 0 - 1 Takamisakari Miyabiyama 4 - 6 Takanowaka Kyokutenho 2 - 2 Tosanoumi Wakanosato 4 - 6 Kotomitsuki Asashoryu 4 - 2 Tochinonada Tochiazuma 0 - 0 Gojoro Kyokushuzan 7 - 10 Musoyama
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