Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday 22nd January 1959
(Page 21)
Waka Makes 11th Straight Sumo Slam
TOKYO (UPI) - Strong 30-year-old yokozuna (grand
champion) Wakanohana Wednesday virtually clinched the title of the 15-day
sumo tournament as he won his 11th straight victory and his two rivals
yokozuna Tochinishiki and ozeki (champion) Asashio suffered their third
defeats.
Thirty-five year old komusubi Kitanonada attacked
aggressively but Wakanohana checked his drive and threw him onto the sand
with a powerful arm throw.
Hairy-chested Asashio, who had hoped to be promoted
to yokozuna as a wedding present to his fiancee Michiko Sumide, movie starlet,
disappointed his admirers by losing to 24-year-old komusubi Annenyama.
* * *
ASASHIO was an overwhelming favorite because Annenyama
had already lost eight bouts but Annenyama showed plenty of fight and promptly
pushed Asashio out of the ring.
Tochinishiki too was a heavy favorite over sixth-ranking
maegashira Wakanoumi, stablemate of Wakanohana. Wakanoumi, however, quickly
thrust his two short arms through Tochinishiki's defense, began pushing
hard and forced his opponent out of the ring.
Wakanohana is expected to defeat his opponent Matsunobori
Thursday for his 12th straight victory and be in a position for a tie even
if he loses all of his three remaining bouts.
Eighth-ranking maegashira Tsurugamine suffered his
second defeat in 11 days when he proved to be no match for fourth-ranking
maegashira, 31-year-old Ohikari.