Last week’s column ended with a lament over the fact that sumo continues “to chew up and spit out young kids without consequence.”
It took less than six days for further evidence of the sport’s callousness toward its participants to be splashed across TV screens nationwide.
On Day 10 of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, third-tier wrestler Shonannoumi clashed heads with his opponent during a false start and immediately crumpled to the clay. Clearly concussed, the 22-year-old made a couple of unsuccessful attempts to get back on his feet for the restart before collapsing once again.
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