Yokozuna Hakuho, fighting for the first time since July 30 due to injury and illness, opened the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament with a win on Sunday.
Hakuho, who had endoscopic surgery on his right knee in August and tested positive for the coronavirus in January, resumed his bid for a 45th career championship three days after turning 36. The victory came over January's champion, komusubi Daieisho.
The yokozuna went on the offensive from the jump, driving Daieisho back to the straw. The komusubi tried to plant his right foot and pivot backward on his left to throw Hakuho out, only to be ruled to have stepped out first.