Wakanohana in first defeat

Tokyo: Wakanohana suffered his first defeat of the year yesterday, while his closest rival Chiyotaikai took another victory on the 13th day of the the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

With two days left to compete, yokozuna (grand champion) Wakanohana is now just one win ahead of sekiwake (junior champion) Chiyotaikai. Wakanohana stands at 12-1 and Chiyotaikai 11-2.

They are followed by number three maegashira (rank-and-file wrestler) Akinoshima, with 10 wins and three losses. Wakanohana, looking for his sixth tournament victory, was beaten by sekiwake Musoyama when the lower-ranked wrestler pushed him from the earthen ring with a forceful slap on the back.