Sumo
TOKYO, Jan. 19 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Takanohana got manhandled Sunday to suffer his second straight defeat while ozeki Asashoryu punished another would-be challenger at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Asashoryu wins again;
Takanohana losesFrom staff and wire reports
Takanohana, now just a shadow of the wrestler who reigned supreme during the 1990s, appeared confused and lethargic as fourth-ranked maegashira Aminishiki whirled him around the raised-ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan in the day's final bout.
Aminishiki, who with the victory is a pitiful 2-6, hemmed up the grand champion's right arm in an arm-lock and immediately tossed the yokozuna over the edge as onlookers gazed in amazement.
Takanohana slipped to 4-3 with one day's rest due to a shoulder injury and, with his chronic knee injury and overall listless sumo, could decide to retire sooner than expected rather than go out in a ball of flames.
Asashoryu, who is on course to become the first Mongolian yokozuna, darted about the raised-ring faster than the Tasmanian Devil before unleashing a deft arm-lock technique on fourth-ranked Tokitsuumi to maintain his immaculate 8-0 record.
Both wrestlers bumped heads in a furious struggle, but a combination of the ozeki's lightening speed, daunting slaps, and quick reflexes finally got the better of Tokitsuumi, who dropped to 3-5.
Meanwhile, third-ranked Dejima, fresh from beating Takanohana on Saturday, rolled like a freight train over komusubi Takanonami (4-4), showing a newfound confidence to keep one adrift of the leader at 7-1.
The former ozeki is now the only wrestler in shooting distance of Asashoryu, with four grapplers following at 6-2.
Elsewhere, ozeki Musoyama (3-5) had another horrible workday, losing to sekiwake Kotomitsuki (5-3), who whipped him about like a rag doll before ousting him from the ring.
In earlier bouts, Takamisakari's exuberant self-motivation tactics came to naught against seventh-ranked Shimotori (4-4), who slammed the No. 9 maegashira to his second loss.
Also, eighth-ranked Kotoryu (6-2) was thrown off-balance and wrenched onto the clay by Hokutoriki (4-4).
No. 13 maegashira Kasugao (5-3) from South Korea dropped to his second straight loss in a lopsided bout with Tochinonada (4-4).
A languid-looking Toki, a No. 2 maegashira, fell to his eighth straight loss after a bout with Iwakiyama (5-3). He faces demotion in March.
Day 8
Won Technique Lost +Asasekiryu 6-2 oshidashi Kobo 4-4 +Komahikari 5-3 abisetaoshi Tochinohana 3-5 Jumonji 2-6 yorikiri Tamarikido 5-3 Kasuganishiki 4-4 okuridashi Otsukasa 3-5 Tochinonada 4-4 yorikiri Kasugao 5-3 Akinoshima 2-6 hikiotoshi Gojoro 4-4 Takanotsuru 6-2 hikiotoshi Wakanoyama 3-5 Shimotori 4-4 yoritaoshi Takamisakari 6-2 Hokutoriki 4-4 hikiotoshi Kotoryu 6-2 Tamanoshima 5-3 yorikiri Kyokushuzan 3-5 Kotonowaka 3-5 okuritaoshi Kaiho 4-4 Iwakiyama 5-3 oshidashi Toki 0-8 Dejima 7-1 yorikiri Takanonami 4-4 Wakanosato 6-2 oshidashi Tosanoumi 5-3 Kyokutenho 5-3 yorikiri Takanowaka 4-4 Asashoryu 8-0 kotenage Tokitsuumi 3-5 Kotomitsuki 5-3 yorikiri Musoyama 3-5 Aminishiki 2-6 okuridashi Takanohana 4-3-1
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