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Musashimaru wins Summer Grand
Posted: Sunday May 23, 1999 11:16 AM
TOKYO (AP) -- Ozeki (champion) Musashimaru sent out yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono and won the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with a 13-2 record, virtually assuring his promotion to sumo's top rank of yokozuna. It was the fifth tournament victory for the 27-year-old Hawaii-born Musashimaru, whose real name is Fiamalu Penitani. Wrestling before 9,000 spectators at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, Musashimaru grabbed Akebono's belt tightly with both hands inside the belt and forcefully pulled his opponent down. Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, finished at 11-4. "I tried to crash hard against Akebono to grab his belt," Musashimaru said. He received the top prize of 10 million yen ($81,000). An official of the Sumo Association of Japan said the nine-member yokozuna selection committee will convene a meeting Monday to discuss Musashimaru's promotion. A recommendation for promotion by the committee would then go to a board of directors meeting on Wednesday for a final decision. Two consecutive tournament victories are considered to be a key requirement for promotion to yokozuna. Musashimaru won the previous tournament with a 13-2 record. In other major bouts, sekiwake (junior champion) Kaio drove out ozeki Takanonami and received his fourth Fighting Spirit Award of 2 million yen ($16,000) for a 12-3 record. Takanonami ended at 9-6. The Technical Prize of 2 million yen went to No. 10 maegashira (senior wrestler) Wakanosato. Wakanosato finished at 11-4 as he was twisted down by komusubi (junior champion second class) Tochiazuma (10-5) on Sunday. No. 3 maegashira Chiyotenzan sent out No. 8 maegashira Toki and received his first Outstanding Performance award of 2 million yen for a 9-6 record, including a victory over Musashimaru. Toki also finished at 9-6. No. 1 maegashira Tosanoumi also received his fourth Outstanding Performance award for an 8-7 record, including a victory over Akebono. Tosanoumi was forced out by No. 3 maegashira Kotonishiki (9-6) on Sunday. No. 4 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokushuzan finished at 5-10, losing to No. 5 maegashira Tamakasuga. Failure to win a majority of his 15 bouts may lead to a demotion for Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batvayar Davaa, before the next tournament in Nagoya, central Japan from July 4 to July 18. No. 14 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, drove No. 10 maegashira Kaiho to the ring's edge and twisted him down. Kyokutenho finished at 9-6 and Kaiho at 8-7. In juryo division matches, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 7 ranked Hoshitango (6-8), or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, wound up the tournament at 6-9, losing to No. 12-ranked Towanoyama. In makushita, the top junior division, No. 9-ranked Kaishinzan, or American Henry Armstrong Miller, won the division title with a 7-0 record. Kaishinzan did not have a bout scheduled on Sunday. No. 16-ranked Hoshiandesu, or Argentine Jose Antonio Juarez, finished at 1-6 as he was sent out by No. 6-ranked Wakanomiya. No. 2-ranked Kyokutenzan, or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha of sandanme, the second highest junior division, was forced out by No. 39-ranked Goto. Kyokutenzan ended at 5-2. In the sandanme division, No. 32-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, tossed down No. 44-ranked Haguronada and finished at 6-1. In jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 85-ranked Asashoyu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, won a divisional title playoff among three wrestlers. In Sunday's playoff, Asashoyu pulled down No. 44-ranked Wakasuruga in the first bout and sent out No. 145-ranked Toyoizumi in the second bout. In jonokuchi, the lowest junior division, No. 12-ranked Kaihakusan, or South Korean Baeg Yun-gi, won the divisional title with a 7-0 record. Kaihakusan did not have a bout scheduled for Sunday. Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament.
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