Wakanohana Upset As Tourney Opens
TOKYO (UPI) - Strong Iwakaze staged a major surprise Sunday
by upsetting grand champion Wakanohana on the opening day of the year's
first 15-day sumo tournament.
Wakanoumi, a stable mate of Wakanohana, tried desperately
to defeat grand champion Tochinishiki in the final bout. The grand champion,
however, wrestled carefully and pushed Wakanoumi out of the ring for an
easy victory.
Grand champion Asashio, competing for the first
time in four tournaments, made an auspicious start by defeating Naruyama.
Asashio stayed out of the past three tournaments because of poor physical
condition.