Kirishima clinches return to ōzeki rank

Kirishima delivers a speech at the ceremony announcing his promotion to ōzeki in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, on Wednesday
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OSAKA –
Sumo wrestler Kirishima will regain his ōzeki status, the sport's second-highest rank, after capturing his third championship in the March grand tournament that ended Sunday, the Japan Sumo Association decided on Wednesday.The decision was made unanimously at an extraordinary board session of the association and a banzuke ranking list formation meeting for the next grand tournament starting on May 10.The 29-year-old wrestler, born Byambachuluun Lkhagvasuren in Mongolia, belongs to the Otowayama stable
He will be promoted from sekiwake, the third-highest rank.Senior association officials delivered news of the promotion to Kirishima and his stablemaster, Otowayama, at the stable's accommodation in Sakai City in Osaka Prefecture."I'm honored to accept (the promotion)," Kirishima said after receiving the notice of his promotion alongside his stablemaster
"I will strive to reach greater heights."Hampered by a neck injury, Kirishima was demoted after competing in the ōzeki rank for six tournaments from the July tournament in 2023
He has since regained his form, winning 34 bouts over three tournaments from last year's November tournament, clearing the informal 33-win benchmark for promotion
Each tournament runs for 15 consecutive days and each wrestler usually has a match each day.Usually, an ōzeki-ranked wrestler is demoted after posting makekoshi losing records in two consecutive tournaments
Under this kadoban system, which has been in place since the July 1969 tournament, a special provision allows a demoted wrestler to reclaim the ōzeki rank by winning 10 or more bouts in the tournament immediately after being demoted to sekiwake.Kirishima's return to ōzeki did not rely on this provision, however, making him only the third wrestler to achieve this, after Kaiketsu and Terunofuji.Endorsing his promotion, officials also credited the quality of his sumo in the latest tournament.

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