Sumo
TOKYO, Jan. 26 (Kyodo) - After capturing his second consecutive Emperor's Cup a day earlier, Asashoryu filleted fellow ozeki Musoyama on Sunday to put to rest any doubts of his securing promotion to yokozuna on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. Asashoryu promotion
expected WednesdayFrom staff and wire reports
Both ozeki locked horns in the day's pinnacle bout at the 15-day meet but Asashoryu was much too savvy for the veteran Musashigawa stable wrestler at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The Mongolian speed demon quickly wrapped up Musoyama after the charge, shoving him over the edge of the raised ring from the rear to notch an incomparable 14-1 record and the icing on the cake to virtually ensure his promotion to sumo's ultimate rank.
"Nothing has been decided yet, so I don't know what to say (about being promoted to yokozuna). I haven't talked about it. All I want to do is do my best as I prepare for the next meet in March. I just wanted to win over myself," the ozeki said.
Asashoryu is expected to receive the green light for promotion to yokozuna from the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Wednesday after meeting the requirements of winning the tournament and notching 13 or more wins.
"I just thought about every bout as they came and tried to do my best sumo, paying attention to the details. I'm doing this for my father, my mother, my wife, my country. I want to become stronger so sumo fans will support me," he added.
Asashoryu won the Kyushu meet in November, also with a record of 14-1, equaling the mark of winning just 24 tournaments after his sumo debut held by yokozuna Takanohana, who retired on Monday.
As at the previous meet, Asashoryu's title run was eased with the absences of several top-flight wrestlers, including three ozeki and yokozuna Musashimaru, who were all out with injuries.
In the day's other bouts, third-ranked maegashira Dejima and komusubi Wakanosato, both of whom were contenders for the coveted hardware until the penultimate day, finished their campaigns at 11-4.
Dejima, a former ozeki who lost three in a row before the final day, rammed Wakanosato over the edge seconds after the charge.
Crowd favorite Takamisakari (10-5) did a tight-wire tiptoeing act on the straw bales before twisting to flip komusubi Takanonami (7-8) in dramatic style.
In an all-sekiwake encounter, Takanowaka (9-6) was bloodied and woozy after he hit his head in a collision with Kotomitsuki (9-6), who slammed him down at ringside.
Makuuchi debutant Takanotsuru (9-6) missed his chance at claiming the Fighting Spirit Prize after he was dumped to the clay in a battle with Iwakiyama (7-8).
But South Korean Kasugao, nursing a sore left thigh, steamrolled in a brilliant charge on Mongolian Kyokutenho (8-7) to finish at 10-5, earning him the Fighting Spirit Prize along with Wakanosato in his debut in the top flight.
No. 10 maegashira Tochinonada (11-4) won an impressive 11 straight after losing his first four matches, slamming third-ranked Kotonowaka (7-8) to the dirt in his final bout.
Eighth-ranked Kotoryu (8-7) and Kyokushuzan (7-8) needed a water break in a lengthy bout lasting more than four minutes, but the sixth-ranked Mongolian grappler prevailed.
TOKYO, Jan. 26 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi-division bouts Sunday, the final day of the of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo (+denotes juryo-division wrestler): Day 15
Won Technique Lost Kasuganishiki 7-8 oshidashi +Aogiyama 7-8 +Takekaze 10-5 oshidashi Jumonji 5-10 +Kinkaiyama 9-6 yorikiri Gojoro 5-10 Akinoshima 6-9 yoritaoshi Tamarikido 8-7 Shimotori 9-6 uwatenage Tamanoshima 8-7 Kyokushuzan 7-8 yorikiri Kotoryu 8-7 Tochinohana 7-8 oshidashi Hokutoriki 4-11 Iwakiyama 7-8 sukuinage Takanotsuru 9-6 Kaiho 7-8 kirikaeshi Tokitsuumi 5-10 Kobo 5-10 katasukashi Aminishiki 4-11 Tochinonada 11-4 uwatenage Kotonowaka 7-8 Toki 4-11 oshidashi Otsukasa 4-11 Kasugao 10-5 yoritaoshi Kyokutenho 8-7 Tosanoumi 8-7 hatakikomi Wakanoyama 8-7 Dejima 11-4 oshidashi Wakanosato 11-4 Takamisakari 10-5 sukuinage Takanonami 7-8 Kotomitsuki 9-6 okuritaoshi Takanowaka 9-6 Asashoryu 14-1 okuridashi Musoyama 8-7
Division winners
Makuuchi -- Asashoryu, Takasago stable (No. 2), 14-1
Juryo -- Asasekiryu, Takasago stable, 11-4 (winner in playoff)
Makushita -- Kokkai, Oitekaze stable, 6-1 (winner in playoff)
Sandamme -- Tokitenku, Tokitsukaze stable, 7-0
Jonidan -- Toho, Taiho stable, 7-0
Jonokuchi -- Kotooshu, Sadogatake stable, 7-0(Note: Wrestlers in sumo's four junior divisions compete in only seven bouts during the tournament.)
Special awards for makuuchi-division wrestlers
Outstanding Performance Prize - None
Technique Prize -- None
Fighting Spirit Prize -- Wakanosato, Naruto stable (4), Kasugao, Kasugayama stable (1)
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