Asashoryu appears ready to compete at the same level he did last time out when the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament opens in Osaka on Sunday, and if he does he could well pick up his 11th career title.

The real issue may be whether he will be able to go without a defeat for the second time in a row.

The reason for such confidence in him is the widening gap between Asashoryu and nearly everyone else. Even though Asashoryu wasn't able to prepare properly last time, he had no real rivals-Chiyotaikai was just able to muster a winning record, Kaio melted down and Tochiazuma was still in a rebuilding stage. Surprises may come from new stars such as sekiwake Hakuho and komusubi Kotooshu. But they aren't consistent enough to match Asashoryu. More likely to finish in the 11-win range, it is hard to see them keeping Asashoryu's pace.

The runner-up race is simple. A tougher question is whether Hakuho will win promotion to ozeki. The requirement is 33 wins marked while a komusubi or sekiwake. Hakuho has only been in those slots once before, so some see him as not yet qualified. But he won 12 bouts as No. 1 maegashira in November, then 11 and runner-up honors as komusubi in January.

This prompted one senior sumo official to say he personally saw no problem with making Hakuho an ozeki. This would certainly help sumo now, which, with the three ozeki looking so bad, could use a new hero.

Even so, rules are rules, and there is a certain value in not bending them just to accommodate stars.

Three years ago, Kotomitsuki marked 13 wins and a title as a No. 2 maegashira and then 21 over the next two tournaments, bringing him above the 34 level. But because of his ranking he wasn't given the nod. He didn't do well the next time out and his ozeki dream was dashed. He has had 10 tournaments in the sekiwake-komusubi ranks since, but never had another serious shot at ozeki.

There are many other examples of wrestlers who never made the grade. At 19, Hakuho is a great wrestler, but there isn't much reason to lift him above the rules. He went back to Mongolia in February and gave the 300 million yen special prize he won to his parents, another example of the shining personality that has won over many fans. When he returned, there was a celebration at the airport.

This kind of display could help the internationalization of sumo, especially if the promotion rules are properly observed.

One interesting aspect of the upcoming tournament will be how Hakuho and Kotooshu fare in the changing of the guard between old and young. Wakanosato and Kotomitsuki, pushed out by the two and now in maegashira, will be looking for revenge. How they will use their experience against these increasingly strong upstarts will be well worth watching.(IHT/Asahi: March 12,2005)