Sumo stars are set to dazzle London's Royal Albert Hall, with a spotlight on yokozuna Hoshoryu Tomokatsu and Onosato Daiki. They're consuming 70 kilograms of rice daily, and the noodle supplier is running low. This marks just the second time a Grand Tournament has ventured outside Japan, a sport steeped in a 1,500-year history. The Royal Albert Hall last hosted a similar event 34 years ago, and the demand for tickets was so high that all five days sold out instantly. The focus is on the two grand champions, Hoshoryu Tomokatsu and Onosato Daiki, the 74th and 75th men to attain the yokozuna rank. Hoshoryu, a Mongolian, and Onosato, from Japan, are already fierce rivals. At the recent Aki Basho tournament, they finished with identical records after 15 days of bouts, leading to a final play-off, with Onosato emerging victorious. Hoshoryu, a basketball and football enthusiast, supports Chelsea and admires Didier Drogba and Petr Cech. The wrestlers, or rikishi, endure a rigorous training regimen, living in communal blocks and skipping breakfast. They all eat together after training, feasting on chankonabe, a hearty stew. The five-day tournament's 40 rikishi pose a feeding challenge. Donagh Collins, CEO of co-organisers Askonas Holt, confirms the daily rice consumption and the noodle supplier's shortage. The ring, or dohyo, is small at 4.55 meters in diameter, making for an intense spectacle. The aim is to either knock opponents to the floor or, more dramatically, push or hurl them out of the ring. The last British tournament featured the massive Konishki, known as the Dump Truck, weighing 287 kilograms. The Royal Albert Hall, primarily a concert venue, has hosted notable figures like John McEnroe, Lennox Lewis, and Muhammad Ali. The upcoming five days will showcase the pinnacle of sumo, provided a new noodle supplier is found.
