Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006

FUKUOKA (AP) Yokozuna Asashoryu beat Aminishiki on Saturday to remain tied for the lead at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

No. 2 Maegashira Futeno forces down ozeki Chiyotaikai to hand him his first loss of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday at Fukuoka Kokusai Center. KYODO PHOTO

Mongolian Asashoryu, who is bidding for his 19th Emperor's Cup, got both arms around Aminishiki in the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center and shoved the komusubi out to improve to 7-0. Aminishiki dropped to 2-5.

At the midway point of the tournament, Asashoryu is tied with ozeki Kaio and sekiwake Kotomitsuki for the lead.

Local favorite Kaio gave his hometown fans a thrill when he used a textbook arm throw to send Russia Roho sprawling to the dirt surface.

Kaio improved to 7-0 and needs just one more win to wrap up the winning record he needs to maintain his ozeki status. Roho saw his record fall to 3-4.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai fell out of the lead when he lost his footing against No. 2 maegashira Futeno.

After absorbing a blow at the faceoff, Chiyotaikai attempted to use his powerful arm thrusts to knock Futeno out but lost his footing in the process and dropped to 6-1. Futeno, who has already beat three ozeki, improved to 3-4.

Ozeki Tochiazuma stayed one win off the pace when he swatted down winless komusubi Kokkai to improve to 6-1.

Sekiwake Kotomitsuki stayed tied for the lead at 7-0 when he overpowered top maegashira Iwakiyama, who has yet to post a win in the 15-day tourney.

Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu improved to 5-2 when he picked up Kakizoe and slammed the fourth-ranked maegashira to the dirt surface. Kakizoe slipped to 4-3.

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