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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:56 a.m., Friday, November 21, 2008

Sumo: Hakuho, Ama stay tied for first at Kyushu tournamenet

Associated Press

FUKUOKA, Japan — Mongolians Ama and Hakuho both won Friday to stay tied for the lead heading into the final two days of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

Grand champion Hakuho overpowered Bulgarian Kotooshu in the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center to improve to 11-2 in the 15-day tournament. Ozeki Kotooshu fell to 6-7 and is struggling just for a winning record.

Earlier, sekiwake Ama shoved out seventh-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (9-4) to keep pace with Hakuho.

Ama is bidding for his first Emperor's Cup and also has a chance for promotion to sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki riding on the outcome of this meeting.

Hakuho is bidding for his ninth title and will face ozeki Chiyotaikai on Saturday while Ama takes on ozeki Kotomitsuki.

Those opponents clashed Friday, with Chiyotaikai swatting down Kotomitsuki to improve to 8-5 and handing Kotomitsuki his fourth loss of the tournament.

Fourth-ranked maegashira Kisenosato (9-4) shoved out Estonian sekiwake Baruto (8-5).