TOKYO - Returning sekiwake Wakatakakage expressed his determination to build a solid foundation for his ozeki push, as the rankings for the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament were released on Monday.
"I've made it my goal for a long time," said Wakatakakage, who won the championship at the previous tournament in May, during a press conference at his Arashio stable's base in Nagoya.
"Chances like this don't come around often, so I want to make sure I grab this one," said Wakatakakage, who returned to sekiwake for the first time in five tournaments.
The standard for ozeki promotion is generally 33 wins over three straight meets at sumo's third- and fourth-highest ranks of sekiwake and komusubi.
As the 31-year-old Wakatakakage went 12-3 as komusubi in the previous meet, the Nagoya tournament at IG Arena will be a test for him to cement his footing for his next promotion.
Coming off two straight years of double-digit wins at the 15-day tournament in Nagoya, Wakatakakage showed his confidence, saying, "I don't mind the heat at the training venue."
In the latest rankings, Yoshinofuji, a former collegiate standout at Nihon University, achieved promotion to komusubi.
Meanwhile, No. 16 maegashira Daiseizan, a native of Inner Mongolia, has become the first Chinese-born wrestler to reach the elite makuuchi division since Sokokurai in 2010. Sokokurai currently runs the Arashio stable, where he trains Daiseizan, whose real name is Asihada.
