japan times: Chiyotaikai slaps down Asashoryu

["Rowan Klein" <rowanchan@hotmail.com>]

Further to Barbara's posts.

http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getsp.pl5?ss20020617a1.htm

Chiyotaikai slaps down Asashoryu

Ozeki Chiyotaikai slapped Mongolian sekiwake Asashoryu out of the ring in 
the final of the "kachinuki" or single-elimination sumo tournament Sunday 
and won the 3 million yen first prize for his first title in the tourney. 
Chiyotaikai, who was 11-4 in last month's grand sumo tournament, muscled out 
komusubi Tochinonada in the semifinals of the makuuchi-division tourney at 
Ryogoku Kokugikan before winning in the slap and thrust final with 
Asashoryu.

Asashoryu, who lost to yokozuna Musashimaru in the quarterfinals of 
Saturday's tournament, turned the tables on the burly Samoa-born grand 
champion with a belt throw that toppled the winner of the last two 15-day 
grand sumo tourneys.

Hayateumi won the title in the second-tier juryo-division tournament. 
Yokozuna Takanohana, who has missed all six of the grand sumo tournaments 
this past year, performed the "dohyo-iri" ring-purification ritual for a 
second straight day but sat out the competition. Ozeki Kaio, who injured his 
left arm during a bout Saturday, sat out the second day of wrestling.

The Japan Times: June 17, 2002


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.