Hakuho’s retirement leaves sumo facing ‘void’ at top

TOKYO: Sumo will struggle to fill the “void” left by the retirement of its greatest-ever champion Hakuho, experts say, with few new stars emerging and public interest in the ancient Japanese sport likely to wane.

Hakuho helped usher in a new wave of sumo popularity with a record 45 tournament wins, drawing huge crowds to his epic battles with arch-rival Asashoryu in the late 2000s.

But the Mongolian-born 36-year-old handed in his retirement notice on Monday after persistent trouble with his right knee, leaving fans wondering how sumo will cope in his absence.

Sumo commentator John Gunning told AFP Hakuho was “one of those athletes that transcend their own sport”, likening him to football’s Pele or basketball’s…