ID :
132350
Sun, 07/11/2010 - 04:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/132350
The shortlink copeid
Sumo: Hakuho gears up for Nagoya meet amid gambling scandal
NAGOYA, July 10 Kyodo -
Grand champion Hakuho will perhaps face his toughest challenge ever when he
tries to summon all his energy into the raised ring amid the biggest crisis to
hit Japan's ancient sport when the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament kicks off
Sunday.
As several sponsors run for the hills to distance themselves from a gambling
scandal with alleged ties to the Japanese mafia, or yakuza, and the nation's
public broadcaster NHK pulls the plug on its live coverage of the 15-day event,
it is anyone's guess whether sumo will rise like a phoenix from the flames or
smolder into ash.
Hakuho, who won the previous two basho with perfect 15-0 records and is on a
32-bout winning streak dating back to January, is the hot favorite to capture
his 15th title, although his motivation has been somewhat tempered after sumo's
governing body said there will be no presentation of the coveted Emperor's Cup,
or any other awards for that matter.
The Mongolian yokozuna, in fact, criticized sumo officials earlier this week,
saying that he thinks they are going too far in trying to recapture public
faith, adding that ''It's as if they are using their own hands to wreck the
national sport.''
This was unusual coming from the normally soft-spoken Hakuho, who unlike
countryman and former yokozuna Asashoryu -- a perennial hothead who retired
amidst allegations he assaulted a man outside a Tokyo nightclub -- has always
been one to exemplify dignity, power and grace in the tradition of the ancient
sport.
The 25-year-old, who is now sumo's lone yokozuna, is also unhappy about NHK's
decision.
''Not only people in Japan but people around the world look forward to seeing
sumo. This is not only a domestic issue,'' the Mongolian said.
The Nagoya meet being held at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium could get interesting
if Hakuho continues to lose the cool that has been his trademark over the next
two weeks.
Disgraced former ozeki Kotomitsuki has been fired after admitting to betting on
pro baseball, and only one Japanese-born wrestler of the second-highest rank
remains.
Kaio, a 37-year-old warhorse, still has some spunk left but lacks the vibrancy
to galvanize the waning popularity among sumo fans demoralized by a spate of
damaging scandals, including the hazing-related death of a junior wrestler and
the use of marijuana.
Estonian Baruto was the only one of the second-highest rank to finish with
double digits with a 10-5 mark when he debuted at ozeki at the summer meet in
May.
If Hakuho is tripped up and Baruto can maintain his composure, the goliath
could have a good chance of becoming the second European following Bulgarian
ozeki Kotooshu to win a title.
Kotooshu and Mongolian ozeki Harumafuji, both 9-6 last time out, are in solid
form but need also to show consistency if they hope to be in the title race.
Sekiwake Kisenosato, a Japanese ozeki hopeful who continues to disappoint, just
passed the grade with majority of wins, or an 8-7 mark, at the summer basho.
Nothing less than his A game will bring him a shot at the title here.
Newly promoted komusubi pair Hakuba of Mongolia and Tochinoshin of Georgia will
be looking to pull off some upsets as the meet progresses, centering mainly on
foreign-born wrestlers in the top ranks.
The Japan Sumo Association has decided to stage the Nagoya meet, although over
a dozen wrestlers implicated in the gambling ring linked to organized crime
have been suspended.
Police have raided the Onomatsu stable, suspected of playing a central role in
the wrestlers' gambling activities, and other stables to search for
incriminating evidence.
An unidentified member of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate,
is suspected of accompanying a former sumo wrestler when he was arrested for
allegedly threatening Kotomitsuki to pay him hush money.
In an apparently unrelated scandal at last year's Nagoya meet, prized seats at
the foot of the raised ring were provided to members of the Yamaguchi-gumi, so
that the gangsters could be visible during television broadcasts.
The police said the brazen act was aimed at cheering up a syndicate boss who
was watching on from prison. The association is cooperating with the police to
root out any ties with such criminal elements.
Hiroshi Murayama, who is the acting chief while JSA Chairman Musashigawa is on
probation until the end of the meet, spoke to a group of about 200 wrestlers
and sumo officials during a ceremony on Saturday calling for a successful
tournament.
''I want you to have pride as a wrestler and keep your heads up high as you
fight. I want this to be the last time that a chairman as to bow his head and
apologize for a scandal. The Nagoya basho means a brand-new start for the sumo
association.''
==Kyodo
Grand champion Hakuho will perhaps face his toughest challenge ever when he
tries to summon all his energy into the raised ring amid the biggest crisis to
hit Japan's ancient sport when the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament kicks off
Sunday.
As several sponsors run for the hills to distance themselves from a gambling
scandal with alleged ties to the Japanese mafia, or yakuza, and the nation's
public broadcaster NHK pulls the plug on its live coverage of the 15-day event,
it is anyone's guess whether sumo will rise like a phoenix from the flames or
smolder into ash.
Hakuho, who won the previous two basho with perfect 15-0 records and is on a
32-bout winning streak dating back to January, is the hot favorite to capture
his 15th title, although his motivation has been somewhat tempered after sumo's
governing body said there will be no presentation of the coveted Emperor's Cup,
or any other awards for that matter.
The Mongolian yokozuna, in fact, criticized sumo officials earlier this week,
saying that he thinks they are going too far in trying to recapture public
faith, adding that ''It's as if they are using their own hands to wreck the
national sport.''
This was unusual coming from the normally soft-spoken Hakuho, who unlike
countryman and former yokozuna Asashoryu -- a perennial hothead who retired
amidst allegations he assaulted a man outside a Tokyo nightclub -- has always
been one to exemplify dignity, power and grace in the tradition of the ancient
sport.
The 25-year-old, who is now sumo's lone yokozuna, is also unhappy about NHK's
decision.
''Not only people in Japan but people around the world look forward to seeing
sumo. This is not only a domestic issue,'' the Mongolian said.
The Nagoya meet being held at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium could get interesting
if Hakuho continues to lose the cool that has been his trademark over the next
two weeks.
Disgraced former ozeki Kotomitsuki has been fired after admitting to betting on
pro baseball, and only one Japanese-born wrestler of the second-highest rank
remains.
Kaio, a 37-year-old warhorse, still has some spunk left but lacks the vibrancy
to galvanize the waning popularity among sumo fans demoralized by a spate of
damaging scandals, including the hazing-related death of a junior wrestler and
the use of marijuana.
Estonian Baruto was the only one of the second-highest rank to finish with
double digits with a 10-5 mark when he debuted at ozeki at the summer meet in
May.
If Hakuho is tripped up and Baruto can maintain his composure, the goliath
could have a good chance of becoming the second European following Bulgarian
ozeki Kotooshu to win a title.
Kotooshu and Mongolian ozeki Harumafuji, both 9-6 last time out, are in solid
form but need also to show consistency if they hope to be in the title race.
Sekiwake Kisenosato, a Japanese ozeki hopeful who continues to disappoint, just
passed the grade with majority of wins, or an 8-7 mark, at the summer basho.
Nothing less than his A game will bring him a shot at the title here.
Newly promoted komusubi pair Hakuba of Mongolia and Tochinoshin of Georgia will
be looking to pull off some upsets as the meet progresses, centering mainly on
foreign-born wrestlers in the top ranks.
The Japan Sumo Association has decided to stage the Nagoya meet, although over
a dozen wrestlers implicated in the gambling ring linked to organized crime
have been suspended.
Police have raided the Onomatsu stable, suspected of playing a central role in
the wrestlers' gambling activities, and other stables to search for
incriminating evidence.
An unidentified member of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate,
is suspected of accompanying a former sumo wrestler when he was arrested for
allegedly threatening Kotomitsuki to pay him hush money.
In an apparently unrelated scandal at last year's Nagoya meet, prized seats at
the foot of the raised ring were provided to members of the Yamaguchi-gumi, so
that the gangsters could be visible during television broadcasts.
The police said the brazen act was aimed at cheering up a syndicate boss who
was watching on from prison. The association is cooperating with the police to
root out any ties with such criminal elements.
Hiroshi Murayama, who is the acting chief while JSA Chairman Musashigawa is on
probation until the end of the meet, spoke to a group of about 200 wrestlers
and sumo officials during a ceremony on Saturday calling for a successful
tournament.
''I want you to have pride as a wrestler and keep your heads up high as you
fight. I want this to be the last time that a chairman as to bow his head and
apologize for a scandal. The Nagoya basho means a brand-new start for the sumo
association.''
==Kyodo
