Promotion-chasing ozeki Hakuho heads up the east side again as the Japan Sumo Association on Monday announced the rankings for the upcoming Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Hakuho was overlooked for promotion to yokozuna despite posting 13 wins at the Nagoya meet in July and will likely need a better showing at the Sept. 10-24 tourney to stand a realistic chance of joining grand champion and fellow Mongolian Asashoryu at sumo's highest rank.
The 21-year-old Hakuho showed his caliber as a future sumo great with a win over Nagoya champion Asashoryu on the final day of the meet but failed to convince sumo officials in his first crack at promotion.
Hakuho is the third youngest wrestler since the Showa era to try to gain promotion to grand champion, after former yokozuna greats Kitanoumi and Taiho.