Newly promoted ozeki Goeido, who has joined two other Japanese-born wrestlers at sumo's second-highest rank, admits to being a bundle of nerves but says he is braced for the battle ahead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday at his Sakaigawa Stable in Tokyo's Adachi Ward, Goeido said, "I am in a position where there will always be pressure to win. I feel very tense."
The 28-year-old Osaka native has been on the road to recovery since damaging his left meniscus near the end of the Nagoya basho in July. He missed a summer regional tour in August so that he could focus on treating the injury.