5 wrestlers test positive, 2 more stables to miss New Year meet

The Japan Sumo Affiliation stated Saturday 5 wrestlers who examined constructive for the novel coronavirus, and the 2 stables they belong to, will miss the New Yr Grand Sumo Event beginning Sunday.

4 Kokonoe secure wrestlers and one from the Tomozuna secure have examined constructive after some 878 wrestlers and stablemasters underwent polymerase chain response checks forward of the 15-day meet at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan. A complete of 4 stables will now skip the match as a result of infections amongst their wrestlers.

A ceremony is held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo with out sumo wrestlers to hope for his or her well being and security underneath a coronavirus state of emergency on Jan. 9, 2021, a day earlier than the 15-day January Grand Sumo Event begins. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Chiyoshoma, a Mongolian No. 13 maegashira within the elite makuuchi division, and Chiyootori from the second-tier juryo ranks examined constructive alongside two lower-division Kokonoe stablemates and one other low-ranked wrestler from the Tomozuna secure.

Chiyoshoma is pictured in November, 2015. (Kyodo)

Mongolian-born yokozuna Hakuho’s Miyagino secure may even miss the meet after he examined constructive on Tuesday, as will the Arashio secure, which was recognized as the location of an an infection cluster.

High-division referee Motoki Kimura, affiliated with the Minato secure, additionally examined constructive and can sit out the match.

The JSA this week ordered all wrestlers and stablemasters examined to make sure the secure and safe staging of the match within the capital, which is at the moment underneath the state of emergency.

The newest withdrawals took the variety of absentees within the high two divisions to 16, a determine that features yokozuna Kakuryu. The 35-year-old has lower-back points and is withdrawing from a meet for the fourth straight time.

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