The harder they fall
Wakanohana hands Kotonishiki first tournament defeat
Posted: Thursday November 19, 1998 04:26 PM
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Takanohana (bottom), who is in second place with a 10-2 record, seeks his 21st tournament title and third in a row AP |
FUKOUKA, Japan (AP) -- Yokozuna (grand champion) Wakanohana
handed No. 12 ranked maegashira (senior wrestler) Kotonishiki his first
defeat Thursday with three days left in the 15-day Kyushu Grand
Sumo Tournament.
With an 11-1 record, Kotonishiki still holds the sole lead,
followed by yokozuna Takanohana and No. 9 maegashira Tosanoumi
at 10-2 and Wakanohana and ozeki (champion) Musashimaru at 9-3.
Wakanohana dodged Kotonishiki's driving attempts and tossed him
down.
Takanohana, seeking his 21st tournament title and third in a
row, evaded komusubi (junior champion second class) Musoyama's
driving attempt and sent him out from behind. Musoyama is 7-5.
Sekiwake (junior champion) Chiyotaikai charged Tosanoumi with
hand thrusts and quickly pulled him down for his eighth victory
against four defeats.
Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, pushed out ozeki
Takanonami in their third clash. Twice before that, the five judges
ruled that both wrestlers had gone out of the ring at the same
time.
No. 12 maegashira Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa,
twisted down No 13 maegashira Gojoro (5-7) for his sixth
victory against six defeats.
In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi
division, No. 2 Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam
Nyamjav, was thrown down by No. 1 Mainoumi (3-9) for his
seventh defeat against five victories.
No. 10 Hoshitango (6-6), or Argentine Imach Marcelo
Salomon, was sent out by No. 7 Yotsukasa (4-8).
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 56
Kyokutenzan (4-2), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, drove out No. 50 Seigoryu.
No. 11 Wakaazuma (2-4), or Yoshinobu Kuroda from
Brazil, was crushed down by No. 6 Tamanonada.
In sandanme, the second-highest junior division, No. 15 Ryuko (4-2), or Brazilian Luis go Ikemori, pushed out
No. 17 Yoshio.
No. 47 Azumakaze (3-3), or Brazilian Tussato Guiuliano
Kotinda, was thrown down by No. 44 Wakasatsuma.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the
tournament.
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