Thu, Sep 25, 2008 page19

• Asashoryu’s career on the line, Hakuho seizes lead

  • AP AND AFP
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  Mongolian sumo grand champion Hakuho defeated Goeido yesterday to move into sole possession of the lead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

  After absorbing a charge from Goeido at the faceoff, Hakuho dodged to his side and swatted down the fifth-ranked maegashira to improve to 10-1 in the 15-day tourney at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

  Goeido held a share of the lead heading into yesterday’s matches, but dropped to 9-2 and is now one win off the pace along with Kotomitsuki and Ama.

  

  Sumo grand champion Asashoryu, left, of Mongolia is pushed out from the ring by compatriot Ama at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Monday. Asashoryu pulled out of the ongoing tournament on Tuesday with an elbow injury, a move which cast doubt over his future in the ring.

  PHOTO: AFP

  Hakuho, who won the Nagoya tournament in July, is bidding for his eighth Emperor’s Cup.

  In other major bouts, Mongolian Ama stayed in the hunt for the title when he hauled down fellow sekiwake Toyonoshima to improve to 9-2. Toyonoshima fell to 4-7.

  Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu used an arm throw at the center of the ring to send Toyohibiki sprawling to the dirt surface.

  Kotooshu improved to 6-5 while sixth-ranked maegashira Toyohibiki fell to 7-4.

  Ozeki Kotomitsuki kept pace when he forced out Tochinonada to improve to 9-2. Fourth-ranked Tochinonada has struggled in this tournament and dropped to 3-8.

  Chiyotaikai swatted down fellow ozeki Kaio to give both wrestlers a record of 7-4.

  Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu, the fifth-ranked wrestler in modern sumo history, on Tuesday put his career on the line by again pulling out from an ongoing tournament.

  It is the second consecutive tournament from which he withdrew halfway through, complaining of poor physical condition.

  Jiji Press reported he was diagnosed with a damaged ligament in his left elbow — the same condition that made him quit the previous tournament — and needed about three weeks of treatment.

  In the customary rule of the ancient sport, a yokozuna, being at the top of the hierarchy, never takes a demotion but retires once his scores start slacking off.

  The next tournament is in November, but his stable master, Takasago, said it was too early to say whether Asashoryu would take part.

  Asashoryu, who turns 28 on Saturday, once enjoyed a series of unbeaten career titles and became the fifth-ranked wrestler in sumo history. But in the 15-day tournament that started on Sept. 14, he has already suffered four defeats, lagging behind Hakuho.

  On Monday, Asashoryu suffered a disgraceful defeat to another compatriot, Ama, who quickly got behind him and pushed him out without giving the yokozuna a moment to turn around.

  Outside the ring, Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, has been a controversial figure for his abrasive remarks and manners, which Japanese traditionalists say does not fit the ideal of a taciturn grand champion.

  The Mongolian, whose ring name means “morning blue dragon,” returned to action in January after being suspended from two bi-monthly tournaments for playing a charity soccer match despite skipping a provincial non-competition tournament citing injuries.
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