Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005

Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu upended Kotooshu on Friday, denying the sekiwake wrestler his first title at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

Yokozuna Asashoryu muscles down sekiwake Kotooshu on Friday, the 13th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Asashoryu fought off a determined challenge from Kotooshu and twisted the Bulgarian wrestler down to improve to 11-2. Kotooshu dropped to 12-1 and will have to wait for the weekend to see if he can become the first European wrestler to win an Emperor's Cup.

Mongolian Asashoryu has won five tournaments in a row and is gunning for his 14th Emperor's Cup. In four previous bouts, Asashoryu won three but lost in their most recent showdown in July.

Kotooshu will face Kisenosato on Saturday while Asashoryu takes on Chiyotaikai.

In an earlier bout, Mongolian Kyokutenho, a third-ranked maegashira, used an arm throw to defeat No. 16 Kisenosato, who dropped to 10-3. Kyokutenho improved to 9-4.

In other bouts, ozeki Chiyotaikai used his trademark arm thrusts to send No. 6 maegashira Kotoshogiku out over the edge.

Chiyotaikai improved to 10-3 while Kotoshogiku fell to 7-6.

Ozeki Tochiazuma got both arms around Aminishiki and toppled the fifth-ranked maegashira to pick up his ninth win against four losses.

Aminishiki, who upset Asashoryu earlier in the tournament, fell to 6-7.

No. 5 maegashira Tokitenku swatted down top maegashira Miyabiyama to improve to 6-7. Miyabiyama fell to 5-8 and will finish the tournament with a losing record.

Komusubi Futeno wrapped up Mongolian Kyokushuzan and muscled the No. 4 maegashira out to give both wrestlers a 4-9 record.

Komusubi Kotomitsuki tripped up Takamisakari to wrap up a winning record and improve to 8-5. Takamisakari, a fifth-ranked maegashira, dropped to 5-8.

Mongolian top maegashira Hakuho nailed down a winning record when he shoved out seventh-ranked maegashira Hokutoriki to improve to 8-5.

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