Futabayama Favored To Win Sumo Tourney, Starting on Thursday
Grand Champion Futabayama, who was married on April
29 to an Osaka heiress, is said to be in the pink of condition and is favored
to win the championship of the "Summer" professional sumo (Japanese wrestling)
tournament which starts Thursday at the Kokugikan bowl for 15 days.
Owing to the avalanche of demand for seats in past
tourneys, the season has been extended for two days.
Although his winning streak over three years was
stopped on the fourth day of the January tournament after which he lost
three consecutive bouts, Futabayama is reported to have added eight pounds
to his well-developed physique and stronger than over.
Akinoumi, who was the first to down Futabayama,
and Kashimanada, who also beat Futabayama, are reported to, have the best
chance of defeating the Grand Champion.