Sumo Tournaments Postponed As Japan Coronavirus Cases Spread
Muhammad Rameez Published April 03, 2020 | 10:05 PM
Two sumo tournaments scheduled for later this year have been postponed, the Japan Sumo Association said Friday, the latest sporting events to fall victim to the coronavirus spreading in Japan
Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Apr, 2020 ) :Two sumo tournaments scheduled for later this year have been postponed, the Japan Sumo Association said Friday, the latest sporting events to fall victim to the coronavirus spreading in Japan.
The next sumo "basho" or tournament, scheduled to open on May 10 in Tokyo -- host city of the next Olympics, which have been postponed to 2021 -- will be delayed by two weeks, the JSA said. The July basho suffered the same fate.
The JSA has not yet decided whether the tournaments would be held without spectators, a spokesman told AFP.
"Today we just rescheduled the two tournaments, but we can't say anything more as the situation is changing day by day," he said.
The spring basho, held last month in Osaka, took place without a crowd, the wrestlers surrounded by just a handful of judges in the empty arena.
It was however broadcast live on national tv, allowing viewers to hear sounds normally drowned out by the crowd, such as the wrestlers slapping their bellies and scraping their feet on the clay ring.
During that tournament, all wrestlers had their temperature checked twice a day as some rituals were amended, including the traditional ladle of water that a winning wrestler offers to the next in the ring.
Sumo stars have been taking precautions at fan events, refraining from shaking hands and wearing surgical masks, while a ceremonial visit to a shrine was cancelled.
The no-spectator sumo tournament came after the government asked operators of sports and entertainment venues to consider cancelling or postponing mass gatherings to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Late Friday, Japan's professional baseball and football leagues gave up plans to play in April after receiving warnings from infectious control experts.
Nippon Professional Baseball, which had already delayed opening this season until April 24, decided to extend its postponement.
Meanwhile, football's J-League -- scheduled to resume games in late April -- also withdrew plans without setting a resumption date.
Earlier this week, organisers said the Tokyo Olympics would begin on July 23 next year after the coronavirus forced the historic decision to postpone the 2020 Games until 2021.
Japan has seen a relatively low number of coronavirus cases, but a recent spike in Tokyo has fuelled speculation that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will soon declare a state of emergency.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Delegation of international investors meets Finance Minister
Federal Govt stands with Balochistan for its development: Naqvi
UAE President receives condolences of Prime Minister of Pakistan over passing of ..
ECC approves to enhance wheat procurement targets
UN urges Israel to 'stop escalation' as tanks enter Gaza's Rafah city
EU stumps up $125 mn for Yemen after aid groups' plea
Governor Tessori condemns May 9 riots, calls it a 'pre-planned conspiracy'
PM condoles with UAE President over Sheikh Tahnoun’s death
Milan nets Giro 4th stage, Pogacar retains lead
UBS back in profit after Credit Suisse takeover losses
Asiya Gul lauds Shafaat's services as DG LG
President for dialogue with all political forces in Balochistan
More Stories From Sports
-
Milan nets Giro 4th stage, Pogacar retains lead
6 hours ago -
HEC, Army move National Challenge Cup semis
7 hours ago -
Jonathan Milan wins Giro 4th stage, Pogacar retains lead
7 hours ago -
WAPDA taste first final defeat in tennis in 42 years after falling to PAF
8 hours ago -
Bangladesh seal T20 series with nine-run win over Zimbabwe
9 hours ago -
Babar Azam eyes multiple records during Ireland, England tours
11 hours ago
-
Flat-out: Hirscher boosts skiing in mountainless Netherlands
10 hours ago -
Pakistan, Japan match ends in a draw
10 hours ago -
Cricket: Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe second T20 scores
10 hours ago -
Olympic flame to arrive in France ahead of Paris Olympics
10 hours ago -
Is time up for Ten Hag after Man Utd implosion?
13 hours ago -
Match officials named for FIFA Qualifier
13 hours ago