Musashimaru keeps solo lead at 10-2

TOKYO - Hawaii-born ozeki Musashimaru drove out lower ranked Asahiyutaka and kept the solo lead at 10-2 today with three days left in the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Musashimaru's closest rivals - Yokozunas (grand champions) Takanohana and Akebono and ozeki Takanonami suffered their fourth defeat.

The results left a tie for second place at 8-4 among 10 wrestlers, including Takanohana, Akebono, Takanonami and ozeki Wakanohana.

Wrestling before more than 11,000 spectators, Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, grabbed No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Asahiyutaka's belt and forced him out, handing Asahiyutaka his ninth defeat against three victories.

In the day's last match, Wakanohana threw down Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, in the second match Thursday. In the first match, Wakanohana tried to twist down Akebono, but they fell to the dirt at the same time and wrestled again.

In the other upsets, No. 5 maegashira Aogiyama charged Takanohana with hand thrusts and sent him out for his fourth victory against eight defeats and sekiwake (junior champion) Musoyama bulldozed out Takanonami for his eighth victory against four defeats.

Komusubi (junior champion second class) Kotonishiki grabbed Kyokushuzan's belt and sent him out for his seventh victory against five defeats.

Kyokushuzan, or Batbayar Davaa from Mongolia, fell to 4-8 and may face to demotion before the next tournament in Osaka, western Japan, in March because he was unable to win the majority of his 15 bouts.

In other major bouts, No. 14 maegashira Yamato, or George Kalima from Hawaii, suffered his fifth defeat against seven victories as he was pushed down by No. 12 maegashira Asanowaka (6-6).

No. 15 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, crushed down No. 16 maegashira Gojoro for his eighth victory against four defeats. Gojoro is 7-5.

In sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 68-ranked Daiki, or American Percy Kipapa, forced out No. 59-ranked Tsurunomori for his fifth victory against one defeat.

Wrestlers in the junior divisions have only seven bouts during the tournament.

---

Results in Scoreboard

For more sumo information
online, try Sumo Web!