Ama only has eyes for ozeki rank
Written by Writer on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Ama only has eyes for ozeki rank
James Hardy / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter
Sekiwake Ama has his sights set on his next career move; Estonian Baruto is just getting used to being a holder of sumo’s third-highest rank.
Baruto’s elevation to sekiwake was the highest-profile promotion in the banzuke rankings published Monday ahead of next month’s Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Ama is gunning for ozeki promotion on the back of 22 wins in his past 30 bouts. Eleven wins at the Nov. 9-23 tournament in Fukuoka will earn him the 33 victories over three tournaments normally regarded as the benchmark for elevation.
“I really want to grab this chance,” Ama told a press conference at Isegahama stable’s lodgings in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture. “If I get double-digit wins, then something good’s going to happen. I want double-digit wins.”
The 24-year-old Mongolian is looking forward to sharing sumo’s second-highest rank with veterans Kaio and Chiyotaikai, wrestlers he has admired since his debut.
“I felt they had an aura–I really looked up to them,” Ama said.
New sekiwake Baruto is being rewarded for an 8-7 showing on his komusubi debut in September. Replacing the big Estonian at that rank is Goeido, a 22-year-old Osaka native whose 10-5 record as a No. 5 maegashira did enough to persuade officials he is ready for a perennially tough assignment.
The other komusubi slot is filled by Aminishiki, a senior stablemate of Ama returning to the rank for his third tour of sanyaku duty.
Hakuho unsurprisingly holds onto the east yokozuna slot, and will look for his third straight Emperor’s Cup and ninth overall.
“I want to avoid getting injured and stay in the hunt for the championship right to the end of the tournament,” Hakuho said.
At the other end of the division, Russian Aran and Aomori native Bushuyama will make their debuts after being promoted from the juryo division. Both will fight as No. 10 maegashira; also coming up are returnees Koryu, Kasuganishiki and Tosanoumi.
(Oct. 28, 2008)
