Musashimaru 9-1, tied for lead at Nagoya

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i grand champion (yokozuna) Musashimaru (Wai'anae's Fiamalu Penitani) defeated maegashira 6 Kotomitsuki today at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Musashimaru improved to 9-1, and is tied with sekiwake Asashoryu and ozeki Chiyotaikai, who both lost today.

Musashi-maru grabbed the smaller Kotomitsuki (4-6) and quickly forced him out of the ring and into the first row of spectators.

Asashoryu, of Mongolia, lost to maegashira 7 Takanonami, and is still one win away from a likely promotion to ozeki, sumo's second highest rank.

Takanonami improved to 8-2, as did sekiwake Waka-nosato, who had little trouble with maegashira 5 Hokutoriki (4-6).

Chiyotaikai was driven from the ring by komusubi Tosanoumi (5-5).

Musashimaru, the only yokozuna in the 15-day tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, is in search of his third consecutive Emperor's Cup and his fourth in the last five tournaments. He has 11 titles overall.