Heading into the home straight of the 2023 New Year Basho, it¡¯s hard to escape a sense of regret over the fact that the two best-performing rikishi in the sport right now won¡¯t meet in the ongoing tournament.
Make no mistake, Takakeisho closing in on promotion to yokozuna is a thrilling storyline in and of itself, and one that ¡ª should he make it ¡ª will constitute an historic achievement.
Even the big-name retirements and absences, which have robbed the top tier of much of its luster in recent times, don¡¯t nullify the fact that sumo¡¯s makuuchi division remains an elite-level athletic competition.
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