Grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia was handed his first loss yesterday on a day of upsets at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Asashoryu was forced to the edge by Kisenosato and thrown out to fall to 5-1. Komusubi Kisenosato improved to 3-3.
With Asashoryu's loss, compatriot Ama moved into sole possession of the lead at 6-0.
Mongolian Hakuho saw his chances for promotion to grand champion take a setback when he was upset by third-ranked maegashira Aminishiki to fall to 4-2.
Hakuho had numerous chances to finish off his opponent but fell to the dirt surface attempting to dispatch Aminishiki with an arm throw.
Hakuho is gunning for promotion to grand champion and needs at least 13 wins. Another loss would likely dash any chance for promotion.
In an earlier bout, sixth-ranked maegashira Ama improved to 6-0 when he got both hands on the belt of Tamakasuga and lifted the winless No. 4 maegashira over the straw ridge.
Top maegashira Roho of Russia stayed one win back when he sidestepped Tamanoshima at the edge and swatted the No. 2 maegashira out to improve to 5-1.
Estonian Baruto brushed aside Tochiazuma to pick up his fourth win against a pair of losses.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: Warriors’ coach Kerr said his 91-year-old mother criticized him for his attitude toward officials that led to his ejection from Monday’s game Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday rescued the Oklahoma City Thunder with a game-tying buzzer-beater before finishing with 46 points in a 129-125 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. The reigning NBA champions looked to be heading for a third straight loss after the Jazz inched into a 114-112 lead following Lauri Markkanen’s layup with just three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. Gilgeous-Alexander then took over in the extra period with nine points as the Western
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE: Sabalenka aims to follow up with a third Australian Open win, while Taiwanese Joanna Garland claimed a WTA 125 title in Canberra Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row yesterday, a week ahead of the Australian Open. Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world No. 1. However, Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final. “I struggled against her a couple of times [in
His team were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in agonizing fashion on Tuesday, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DR Congo) human statue Michel Kuka Mboladinga would be remembered as the tournament’s most remarkable supporter. The colorfully dressed Kuka has earned fame as the fan who stands completely immobile throughout his team’s games, looking toward the sky with his right arm raised and palm open. He has become a media star and on Tuesday was accompanied by a delegation of several hundred Congolese supporters whose trip to Morocco was paid for by the country’s government. They took their
RSS