Wednesday, May 17, 2000

DAY 10

Takanohana and Akebono barely broke a sweat Tuesday as the yokozuna pair posted easy victories to remain in a four-way tie for the lead after the 10th day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Fighting in the day's final bout at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, Takanohana, bid ding for his 21st Emperor's Cup, took control from the outset and quickly marched out No. 2 maegashira Waka noyama (3-7) to rack up his ninth win.

Akebono, meanwhile, gave Asanowaka little chance when he maneuvered to get a right-hand grip of his opponent's belt shortly after the faceoff and then lifted the helpless No. 1 maegashira out for his sixth straight win.

Komusubi Kaio and 12th- ranked maegashira Tochinohana also won to remain tied with the grand champions at 9-1 in the 15-day tourney.

Kaio absorbed a thundering blow at the faceoff, but then managed to turn the tables on komusubi Takatoriki when he got an arm around his opponent and muscled him out with little resistance.

Takatoriki, the surprise spring tourney winner in March, continues to struggle and dropped to a record of 2-8.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai (8-2) kept his title hopes alive and remains one win off the pace af ter a hard-fought victory over fellow ozeki Takanonami, who needs at least eight victories to avoid demotion after a losing record in Osaka.

Chiyotaikai relied on a series of powerful arm thrusts to the neck and, taking advantage of his low center of gravity, shoved Takanonami over the straw ridge, dropping the Futagoyama stable wrestler to 6-4.

Ozeki hopeful Miyabiyama overpowered Tosanoumi (5-5) when he worked the komusubi back toward the edge of the ring and then bulldozed him out to pick up his seventh win.

Sekiwake Tochiazuma also improved to 7-3 with a con vincing win over top maega shira Tochinonada (3-7) while ozeki Dejima (6-4) got his left arm under the arm of Kotor yu and slammed the fifth- ranked maegashira down to his fourth loss.

Mongolia's maegashira pair, meanwhile, went down to de feat as No. 6 Kyokutenho (4-6) was thrown down by Hayateu mi (6-4) while fourth-ranked Kyokushuzan (2-8) was tripped up by Daizen (2-8).

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