Friday, May 21, 2004

Hokutoriki easily overpowered Kotomitsuki on Thursday to remain the sole leader at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Winners		Losers
Kobo	3-8	Kaido	3-8
Takanowaka	6-5	Wakatoba	5-6
Toki	3-8	Aminishiki	5-6
Kotoryu	6-5	Harunoyama	3-8
Tochisakae	5-6	Asanowaka	3-8
Takekaze	7-4	Jumonji	5-6
Kyokushuzan	7-4	Kaiho	6-5
Kokkai	8-3	Hakuho	8-3
Iwakiyama	8-3	Futeno	7-4
Kotonowaka	5-6	Tosanoumi	4-7
Buyuzan	3-8	Tokitsuumi	6-5
Hayateumi	7-4	Shimotori	3-8
Dejima	5-6	Asasekiryu	2-9
Hokutoriki	10-1	Kinkaiyama	8-3
Kotomitsuki	6-5	Kakizoe	4-7
Miyabiyama	2-9	Tochinonada	3-8
Takamisakari	4-7	Chiyotaikai	7-4
Tamanoshima	9-2	Musoyama	6-5
Wakanosato	8-3	Kaio	8-3
Kyokutenho	4-7	Asashoryu	9-2

Top maegashira Hokutoriki came bursting out of the blocks at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan and drove Kotomitsuki back with a double arm thrust to the neck.

After getting Kotomitsuki to the edge, Hokutoriki forced the komusubi wrestler out with one final shove to improve to 11-1. Kotomitsuki dropped to 6-6.

Elsewhere, grand champion Asashoryu, who lost to fellow Mongolian Kyokutenho on Wednesday to fall to 9-2, was all business and remained one win back at 10-2 when he shoved Wakanosato out in the day's final bout. Wakanosato fell to 8-4.

Asashoryu went 15-0 in the Spring tourney and won the first five bouts of this meet but has looked vulnerable in losses to Hokutoriki and Kyokutenho.

In other major bouts, Georgian-born Kokkai continued his impressive run when he used his thrusting style to send Musoyama over the ridge for his first win against an ozeki wrestler.

Kokkai, the only European-born wrestler in the elite division, improved to 9-3 while Musoyama dropped to 6-6 and is now hoping to just salvage a winning record.

No. 5 maegashira Tamanoshima upset struggling ozeki Kaio to remain one win off the pace at 10-2.

Tamanoshima got an underhand grip of Kaio's belt and lifted the larger ozeki over the ridge in a matter of seconds. Kaio, who lost to Wakanosato on Wednesday, dropped to 8-4 and is out of the running.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai was handed a gift when sekiwake Kyokutenho slipped at the face off and fell to the dirt surface.

Chiyotaikai improved to 8-4 while Kyokutenho picked up his fourth win against eight losses.

No. 4 maegashira Takamiskari got both hands on the belt of Miyabiyama and lifted him out to improve to 5-7. Miyabiyama fell to an unflattering 2-10.

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