Sumo: Newly built IG Arena readying for big opening with Nagoya meet

Kyodo News

3 days ago

KYODO NEWS - 8 minutes ago - 15:51 | Sports, All, Japan
Preparation for the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July began Wednesday at the newly built IG Arena, one of the biggest indoor venues in Japan.
An office was launched in Nagoya for the July 13-27 tournament, which will be the opening event for the arena, with around 7,800 seats to be readied as Onosato makes his yokozuna debut.
The venue, which can house up to 17,000 spectators, is scheduled to host the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December and is also designed to stage concerts.
"We'll be looking to make a good preparation. It's a big gymnasium and we expect lots of spectators to come over," said former maegashira Oginohana, now Dewanoumi stablemaster who is in charge of the Nagoya meet.
Onosato clinched his promotion to the exalted rank in May having won back-to-back Emperor's Cups as ozeki, at a record pace after competing in 13 meets since his professional debut.
The Ishikawa Prefecture native will be ranked alongside Mongolian-born Hoshoryu as two yokozuna occupy the top of the sumo pyramid together for the first time since September 2021.
"I hope the two yokozuna lead the title race," Dewanoumi said. "I hope the wrestlers deliver bouts that make the fans happy."
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