[sumo] Article: Kotomitsuki, Kaio show oldies can be goldies

[Barbara]

Article:
"Battle of the ages Kotomitsuki, Kaio show oldies can be goldies"

at http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20070828TDY20003.htm

by James Hardy / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter

While Asashoryu was hitting the front pages over his taxes on Monday, 
the Japan Sumo Association was busy preparing for next month's Autumn 
Grand Sumo Tournament with the release of the rankings.

Although the yokozuna heads the banzuke, his two-tournament suspension 
means there is an asterisk against his name. In his absence, grizzly and 
battle-worn veterans will try to stave off the charge of the 
(relatively) light brigade.

Representing callow youth is komusubi Kisenosato, who returns to the top 
ranks for the Sept. 9-23 tournament after an 11-4 performance in 
July--his first winning record of 2007.

Championing the aged at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokukigan will be ozeki 
Kotomitsuki, who will make his debut at sumo's second-highest rank at 
the grand old age of 31 years and 5 months.

The Sadogatake stable wrestler was promoted in July, just in time for 
mentor and former yokozuna Kitazakura to celebrate before his untimely 
death earlier this month.

Kotomitsuki shares the rank with stablemate Kotooshu--the first time 
since Autumn 2001 one stable has had two ozeki.

"Because it has been my dream, it goes without saying that I'm stoked," 
Kotomitsuki told reporters at his stable in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture.

"I have many memories of the late stablemaster spurring me on. It means 
this time I want to avoid the weak sumo I've done in the past."

The current stablemaster Sadogatake said Kotomitsuki still had time to 
make the step up to yokozuna.

"My predecessor was 32 when he was promoted to the top rank," Sadogatake 
said. "Age doesn't matter."

Reinforcing that point is Kaio, who at 35 and 1 month ties Kotogahama as 
the oldest-ever active ozeki.

A notch down the list, Mongolian speed demon Ama swaps places with 
senior stablemate Aminishiki--who is a sekiwake for the first time. The 
28-year-old Aminishiki has now been a sanyaku wrestler for three 
consecutive tournaments--not a bad record for a lightweight with a dodgy 
knee.

"Seeing the banzuke made my true feelings burst out," Aminishiki said of 
the promotion. "[Seeing it] has given me real confidence."

Meanwhile, Asasekiryu gave his Takasago stable something to smile about 
with promotion to sekiwake. He becomes the fifth Mongolian to reach the 
rank--one of the others is stablemate Asashoryu, whose suspension over 
the 2007 Mongolian Soccer Incident leaves the path unblocked for 
yokozuna Hakuho to add to his tally of three Emperor's Cups.

Other parts of the banzuke have a strangely nostalgic look to them. 
Cluttering up the top maegashira ranks are veterans Tochinonada, Dejima, 
Wakanosato and Hokutoriki.

That said, there are some new faces peeking out--notably Mongolian No. 2 
maegashira Kakuryu, whose skills will get heat-tested by the ozeki in 
Week 1, and No. maegashira Homasho.

The protege of former sekiwake Terao returns to the top of the pile 
after a one-tournament absence--he will be looking to improve on the 
5-10 record he turned in as a top-ranked maegashira in May.

Former sekiwake Kyokutenho returns to the top makuuchi division after an 
enforced visit to the juryo division. The Mongolian-born No. 12 
maegashira was sent to the back of the grid for being involved in a 
minor traffic accident in April.

Also back is No. 10 maegashira Iwakiyama. He comes into the top division 
as a juryo champion, but finds junior stablemate Toyohibiki four places 
above him.

Rounding out Sakaigawa stable's involvement in top-ranked sumo is 
debutant Goeido, who as a No. 14 maegashira will have a relatively 
gentle introduction to the vagaries of prime-time action.

===

JSA board to meet over Asa

The sumo association will hold an extraordinary board meeting today to 
discuss whether to allow yokozuna Asashoryu to return to Mongolia, Kyodo 
News reported Monday.

If permission is given at the meeting, Asashoryu could be out of the 
country as soon as Wednesday.

The yokozuna is currently being treated for a stress-related disorder by 
an association-approved psychiatrist at a Tokyo hotel.

AUTUMN GRAND TOURNAMENT

(At Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan)

RANKINGS

EAST WEST

*Asashoryu (Y) Y Hakuho (Y)

Chiyotaikai (O) O Kotooshu (O)

Kaio (O) O Kotomitsuki (S)

Aminishiki (K) S Asasekiryu (M1)

Kisenosato (M6) K Ama (S)

Tokitenku (K) 1 Homasho (M6)

Tochinonada (M9) 2 Kakuryu (M8)

Hokutoriki (M10) 3 Kotoshogiku (M1)

Dejima (M2) 4 Wakanosato (M2)

Toyonoshima (M4) 5 Miyabiyama (M5)

Toyohibiki (M14) 6 Kaiho (M15)

Tamanoshima (M5) 7 Tokitsuumi (M11)

Takekaze (M3) 8 Tosanoumi (M13)

Roho (M3) 9 Takamisakari (M4)

Iwakiyama (J1) 10 Kasugao (M10)

Tamakasuga (M15) 11 Futeno (M7)

Kokkai (M9) 12 Kyokutenho (J3)

Ryuo (M8) 13 Tochiozan (M7)

Kitazakura (M11) 14 Goeido (J5)

Hakurozan (M12) 15 Yoshikaze (M13)

Kasuganishiki (J3) 16 Kakizoe (M16)

Note: Previous rankings in parentheses, Y=yokozuna, O=ozeki, S=sekiwake, 
K=komusubi, M=maegashira, J=juryo, *=suspended for 2 tournaments.
(Aug. 28, 2007)
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posted by
Barbara Murasakihana