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28 sumo wrestlers to miss tournament due to coronavirus

Mar 14 (Japan Today) - The Japan Sumo Association said Saturday a total of 28 wrestlers, all from outside the top two divisions, will miss the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament starting this weekend after a pair of coaches tested positive for the coronavirus.

All of the wrestlers are from the Yamahibiki and Onoe stables, whose respective elders, Onogawa and Otowayama, returned positive tests on Thursday.

The wrestlers, ranked in the third-tier makushita division or below, tested negative for the virus but will sit out the entire 15-day meet opening Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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