Mongolian sekiwake Hakuho on Friday all but secured promotion to ozeki after posting his 12th win to stay tied for the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Hakuho
The 21-year-old's promotion to sumo's second-highest rank is expected to be approved at a Japan Sumo Association executive board meeting on Wednesday, paving the way for him to make his ozeki debut at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in May.
"I'm very pleased, what else can I say?" said Hakuho, who bounced back from his first defeat to post a hard-fought win over fellow sekiwake Kotomitsuki in Friday's bout.