Hakuho

[Jejima]

In today's South China Morning Post (the English language paper here in Hong Kong), there is a tiny article on the current basho 'Asashoryu still tied for lead at Spring Sumo', sourced from AP (Associated Press).

A quote from it....

"Sekiwake Hakuho, who is gunning for promotion to Ozeki, stayed tied for the lead at 8-0 after deflecting a series of arm blows from Chiyotaikai and flipping the ozeki out of the ring by the belt. The win puts Hakuho well on his way to securing the 13 wins he would need to move up the ranks."

Hmmm....

[Kurinoku]

9 +13 + 13 = 35...

yusho yes/no?

beating Yokozuna once/twice?

I would say:

Hmmm....

(I'd love to see him as an Ozeki and Yokozuna, though...)

[Zingo]

Closing in on promotion.... Needs to win two out of the three matches against Aminishiki, Tamanoshima and the broken Kaio... Can afford to lose against Asa, Tochi and Kotomitsuki... Shouldn't be any problems in current shape...

[Erkhembulgan]

congratulations to shin-ozeki!

[Jejima]

The only way I can see that he would be denied promotion with 11 wins is if the kyokai think that 5 Ozeki are too many (Kaio-zeki touches wood) - although the first '9' is weak. Chiyotaikai made it with 32 wins, including a middle '9' (although one basho was a Yusho).

12 wins should certainly be okay....

Okay, 13 would be a definite (probably :-/ - but the last two bashos would be 13 and 13.... That is practically Yokozuna promotion requirement (Dohyo-iri...)

edit: How did Mickey do when he was looked over despite 34 wins? Perhaps, that is why AP thinks he needs 13 wins this basho....

Edited March 20, 2006 by Jejima

[sashimaru]

Mickey had a 13-2, 9-6, 12-3 record.

But he was ranked as Maegashira 02 east for 13-2 basho.

[Jejima]

Thanks to Jonosuke for this...

Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman

----------------------------------

(On Hakuho's promotion as he is approaching 33 wins in

three basho mark)

"I'd like to see him get 12 wins. I'd remind you that

a couple of bashos ago he only had 9 wins."

I read this comment as 12 will be a certain promotion, and 11 wins a possible / probable one. (I guess it depends a little on Kaio-zeki and / or Chiyotaikai-zeki)

[Jejima]

Again, thanks to Jonosuke.....

Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Sumo Kyokai

-------------------------------------------------------------

(On Hakuho's ozeki promotion)

"I'd like to see him get at least another or possibly

two wins. You can talk about 33 wins all you want but

if he loses the next four, it will tarnish the image

and have less impact. Rather than going into a numbers

game, I want him to aim for his first yusho. If he is

going for the yusho, things like ozeki ranking will

naturally fall into the place."

Kokonoe oyakata (former yokozuna Chiyonofuji), Dohyo

Judge

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(Asked if Hakuho was showing Ozeki Sumo already)

"Already Ozeki Sumo? You mean already Yokozuna sumo."

(On the promotion)

"At this point I really cannot make a specific comment

as we never know what's going to happen in the rest of

this basho. All I can say is I'd like him to aim for a

higher goal."

So, he has got his 11 wins, including the Yokozuna (who he also beat last basho), and is the sole leader, but it looks like that this isn't enough (Shaking head...)

Did he get his 11 wins too quickly? If he only achieved his 11th on day 14 or 15, would that have helped? Or are the powers that be reluctant to have 5 Ozeki, and are now waiting to see what happens with Kaio?

Hmmmmm......

Edited March 23, 2006 by Jejima

[Kintamayama]

Did he get his 11 wins too quickly? If he only achieved his 11th on day 14 or 15, would that have helped? Or are the powers that be reluctant to have 5 Ozeki, and are now waiting to see what happens with Kaio?

Hmmmmm......

Come May, he will become Ozeki. I stake my repu.. I mean my "notwithstanding" on that.

[Asashosakari]

So, he has got his 11 wins, including the Yokozuna (who he also beat last basho), and is the sole leader, but it looks like that this isn't enough (Shaking head...)

Only if you honestly believe that they would deny him the promotion if he loses his remaining 4 bouts. I don't, given that there's really no evidence whatsoever to back up such a belief.

[Tetsuzukiyama]

I don't, given that there's really no evidence whatsoever to back up such a belief.

Amen to that. Now I'm just wondering how far over the Kyokai is going to have to bend to explain making Tochiazuma a Yokozuna with .. 10 wins? It's gonna happen.

[Jonosuke]

Now I'm just wondering how far over the Kyokai is going to have to bend to explain making Tochiazuma a Yokozuna with .. 10 wins? It's gonna happen.

I can safely stake Kintamayama's great reputation it ain't gonna happen. Unless we have a 10 bout basho.

[Kishinoyama]

Amen to that. Now I'm just wondering how far over the Kyokai is going to have to bend to explain making Tochiazuma a Yokozuna with .. 10 wins? It's gonna happen.

Let's see: 14-1 yusho, 10-5, 13-2 yusho = Yokozuna? I don't think that is remotely possible. Okay what about 14-1 yusho, 12-3 3rd place, 12-3 yusho? Does that equal yokozuna promotion? I say no promotion. Your thoughts please?

[Tetsuzukiyama]

Let's see: 14-1 yusho, 10-5, 13-2 yusho = Yokozuna? I don't think that is remotely possible. Okay what about 14-1 yusho, 12-3 3rd place, 12-3 yusho? Does that equal yokozuna promotion? I say no promotion. Your thoughts please?

14-12-12 or 13 maybe but probably moot. He's got some extra competition for promotion now but the four way race between A-K-H-T could turn up some 11 or 12 win Yushos in the near future so who knows?