Saturday, March 27, 2004

OSAKA (AP) Grand champion Asashoryu made short work of ozeki Kaio on Friday to move into a two-way tie with Chiyotaikai for the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

Winners		Losers
Kaiho	8-5	Harunoyama	7-6
Roho*	6-7	Chiyotenzan	2-11
Takekaze	8-5	Asanowaka	4-9
Yotsukasa	6-7	Kotoryu	7-6
Wakanoyama	2-11	Kasuganishiki	4-9
Kokkai	8-5	Kotonowaka	9-4
Buyuzan	8-5	Ushiomaru	7-6
Futeno	5-8	Takamisakari	7-6
Toyozakura	5-8	Kinkaiyama	3-10
Tosanoumi	4-9	Takanonami	4-9
Kyokutenho	8-5	Toki	7-6
Dejima	7-6	Tamanoshima	5-8
Kyokushuzan	3-10	Jumonji	4-9
Hokutoriki	8-5	Miyabiyama	8-5
Shimotori	5-8	Tochinonada	6-7
Iwakiyama	7-6	Kakizoe	5-8
Kotomitsuki	5-8	Aminishiki	2-11
Wakanosato	6-7	Tokitsuumi	6-7
Chiyotaikai	13-0	Asasekiryu	12-1
Musoyama	9-4	Tochisakae	6-7
Asashoryu	13-0	Kaio	11-2
*denotes juryo class wrestler

Fighting in the final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Mongolia's Asashoryu got a hold of Kaio's arm just after the face off and twisted the burly ozeki down to improve to 13-0.

Asashoryu, who won the New Year tourney with a perfect 15-0 record, won his 28th straight match and will be gunning for his sixth Emperor's Cup on Sunday, the final day of the 15-day tourney. Kaio dropped to 11-2.

In the day's featured bout, ozeki Chiyotaikai faced rank-and-filer Asasekiryu in a showdown of undefeated wrestlers.

After a false start, Chiyotaikai used a series of arms thrusts to the upper body in a bout that looked more like a boxing match as both wrestlers exchanged vicious slaps to the head.

After a prolonged standoff, Chiyotaikai eventually prevailed when he buried his head into the chest of his opponent and drove the No. 12 maegashira out over the edge to improve to 13-0. Mongolian Asasekiryu fell to 12-1.

Despite the loss, it's been an impressive run for Asasekiryu, who will be moving up the ranks for the next tournament.

Yokozuna Asashoryu pulls down ozeki Kaio on Friday.

Ozeki Musoyama breezed to a painless win when he shoved out Tochisakae to pick up his ninth win against four losses. No. 7 maegashira Tochisakae fell to 6-7.

In an earlier bout, Kokkai, from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, wrapped up a winning record when he shoved Kotonowaka over the edge.

No. 9 maegashira Kokkai improved to 8-5 while No. 13 maegashira Kotonowaka fell to 9-4.

Sekiwake Wakanosato drove out No. 5 maegashira Tokitsuumi to give both wrestlers a record of 6-7.

Fan favorite Takamisakari was thrown down by No. 15 maegashira Futeno, who improved to 5-8. Takamisakari, a No. 8 maegashira, dropped to 7-6.

We welcome your opinions. Click to send a message to the editor.