SUMO

Chiyotaikai says he won't retire even if he posts losing record

Thursday 12th November, 03:24 PM JST

FUKUOKA —

Ozeki Chiyotaikai, who will be battling to avoid demotion from sumo’s second-highest rank for a record 14th time in the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, said Thursday he will not retire even if he posts a losing record at the 15-day meet.

The Kokonoe stable veteran, however, said he will put an end to his career if he competes in the New Year tournament as a sekiwake and fails to win 10 bouts, the minimum requirement for promotion back to ozeki. Chiyotaikai must register a majority of victories in the Fukuoka basho getting underway Sunday to avoid dropping one place down the rankings to sekiwake.

‘‘I have consulted my stablemaster and decided not to retire even if I pull out or lose more than half of the bouts in the Kyushu tournament,’’ Chiyotaikai said during training in Fukuoka.

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12 Comments

Yelnats at 03:55 PM JST - 12th November

Must be humiliating to be demoted.
TheDave at 04:01 PM JST - 12th November

Not as humiliating as being a Yokozuna and going make-koshi.
Junnama at 04:04 PM JST - 12th November

He's been bad for quite a while, but was a good Ozeki in his day. He has two tournaments left by my count.
isthistheend at 04:15 PM JST - 12th November

He loves the admiration. He's been done as a "promising" sumo for more than 10 years. I say cut the knot already!
Beelzebub at 05:11 PM JST - 12th November

The sanyaku (three highest ranks) have become a mostly Mongolian show and that is not about to change, even if Asashoryu retires.
bobbafett at 05:49 PM JST - 12th November

well there is always the biker gang to help him make big noise and get attention...brmmm brip brip brip brip (southpark last week)
cow76 at 07:07 PM JST - 12th November

I say keep going at least until he's no longer even a Sekiwake. Plenty of old wrestlers around who used to be highly ranked. Dejima and Tosanoumi were both Ozekis once. I don't think they feel humiliated to be fighting at a lower level.
isthistheend at 08:35 PM JST - 12th November

They don't feel humiliated, that's why Japanese sumo has become so weak!
huberts2 at 08:35 PM JST - 12th November

To cow76 -- Tosanoumi was never an Oseki
Sarge at 08:28 PM JST - 13th November

Why am I not surprised at this?
sparksy at 09:14 PM JST - 22nd November

The monthly salary for an ozeki is 2,347,000 yen. At 2-6 after Sunday's action, it's odds on Chiyo will get makekoshi and be demoted. The next banzuke comes out in late December so he will still be an ozeki until then and receive December's pay at that rank's rate. Sanyaku rikishi receive 1,693,000 per month so he will earn that by just competing in the Hatsu Basho. Insofar as pride goes, his last decent basho was Kyushu 2007 when he got 11-4. For a one-dimensional rikishi, he certianly has had staying power. No way he can get 10 wins in January so he will stick around for the extra 4 million yen and retire. I know I would!
Sarge at 09:28 PM JST - 22nd November

I can't believe Chiyotaikai gets 2,347,000 yen a month...