Ozeki Kaio will be under enormous pressure to finally clinch promotion to yokozuna in front of his home fans when the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament kicks off in Fukuoka on Sunday.
Ozeki kaio (right) could be making his final bid for promotion to yokozuna when the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament gets under way in Fukuoka on Sunday.
Kaio stole the limelight away from grand champion Asashoryu and captured his fifth Emperor's Cup with a 13-2 record at the autumn meet in Tokyo but for the 32-year-old, whose career has been ravaged by lower back problems, this could be his last shot at reaching sumo's summit.
For years, Kaio's sumo career has been a roller-coaster ride of soaring expectations derailed by injuries and a tendency to choke when it comes down to the crunch.