A new sumo tournament aimed at boosting women's involvement in the ancient sport will take place in Tokyo on Feb. 11 with the support of former yokozuna Hakuho, organizers of the event said Monday.
Wrestlers compete in a women's sumo tournament in the Osaka Prefecture city of Sakai on April 10, 2022. (Kyodo)
About 200 female wrestlers, from first graders to high school students, plan to compete in the inaugural Dream Girls Cup at Sumida Futsal Arena. The organizers hope it will help make more women familiar with sumo from childhood and build the sport's fan base.
"I'm happy with the establishment of a tournament that responds to the voices of female sumo lovers," Hakuho, now known as stablemaster Miyagino, said in a statement.
"I hope this will be a big step in further expanding the popularity of sumo in the future."
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