Tuesday, July 9, 2002

DAY 2

NAGOYA (Kyodo) Yokozuna Musashimaru brutalized yet another wishful opponent for an easy win Monday while ozeki Kaio fell to his second straight loss at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Musashimaru, making a bid for his third straight tournament title, overpowered a hyped-up Takamisakari in the day's final bout of the 15-day tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium for his second win in as many days.

Second-ranked maegashira Takamisakari (0-2) outdueled Musashimaru at the face-off, but slammed into a brick wall and was abruptly pounded into submission and over the edge with a devastating frontal thrust-out from the Samoa-born grand champion.

Meanwhile, Kaio, who is bothered by a nagging sore left arm, moved hesitantly throughout his bout with Dejima, struggling to get a handle on the left-side of the third-rank maegashira.

Dejima (2-0), a former ozeki himself, wasted little time shoving his ailing opponent over the ring's edge for a convincing win and a stellar start after a string of persistent health problems.

Chiyotaikai (2-0) made mincemeat of Mongolian Kyokushuzan (0-2), plowing the No. 2 maegashira over the edge, while Tochiazuma (2-0) spun around komusubi Miyabiyama (0-2) for a rear push-out.

In other premier bouts, Mongolian sekiwake Asashoryu, normally known for his fire and flash, was a picture of composure as he calmly ushered fourth-ranked Takanowaka (1-1) out with a frontal force-out for his second win.

No. 7 maegashira Takanonami (2-0), a former ozeki, held sixth-rank Kotomitsuki in his trademark arm-lock for an interminable period before flinging the home crowd favorite over the straw bales.

Kotomitsuki (1-1) plummeted from his sekiwake ranking after suffering a broken jaw in the spring meet and sat out the summer tournament in May.

Mongolian Kyokutenho was wrenched forward and shoved out from behind by No. 7 maegashira Toki (1-1) for the eighth-rank wrestler's second straight loss.

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