pre-basho condition

[abe@zoom.com (Masumi Abe)]

Kaio probably needs 12 wins this basho to be promoted to a new ozeki next basho.
He will be in 11th consecutive Sekiwake rank. He recorded two consecutive double
digit wins as a sekiwake the first time last basho. His record against
yokozuna and
ozeki during the last 6 basho was 16-11 and that alone proves that he has strong
enough to get promoted to ozeki, but his problems have been against weaker
opponents
and his tendency of losing consecutive days, particularly during the fist
week. During
last 10 basho, his average wins in his first 8 days have been 4.5 wins and
3.5 losses.
So his typical pattern is to lose to the lower rikishi and looked
not-so-great in the
first 10 days. By that time, his hope to get promoted to ozeki getting minimum.
In many occasion, he seemed to be on his way to lose sekiwake rank considering
his "condition" and his opponents in the last 5 days. Then somehow he
managed not
only get kachikoshi, but at least 9 wins with one of san-sho, and sometimes
he even
recorded two digit wins.

If he could keep focussing one match at a time, it won't be too difficult
for him to
record 12 wins any given basho, based on his past record against yokozuna
and ozeki.
It's about time to close the gap with three rikishi he started sumo with.
They are
Akebono, Takanohana and Wakanohana. All these four rikishi started sumo the very
same basho, Haru-basho in 1988.

In addition, Akebono did not look very good this time. His shoulder and
ancle condition
have not improved well, and he may skip this basho to concentrate on
treatment of
these injuries. It will be decided if he will participate Aki-basho in
couple of days.

-Masumiriki