Top Japan sumo wrestler Hakuho tests positive for COVID-19

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VIDEO SHOWS: FILE FOOTAGE OF SUMO WRESTLER HAKUHO WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

SHOWS:

TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - APRIL 16, 2018) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. TOP-RANKING SUMO WRESTLER HAKUHO ENTERING ARENA AND GETTING READY

2. HAKUHO CLAPPING HANDS AND LOOKING ON

3. VARIOUS OF HAKUHO FOOT-STOMPING AND SQUATTING AS PART OF PERFORMANCE DISPLAY

4. HAKUHO AND WRESTLER KAKURYU, IN OPPOSITE ENDS OF ARENA RING AND PUTTING ON PERFORMANCE

5. HAKUHO AND KAKURYU FOOT-STOMPING

6. VARIOUS OF HAKUHO AND KAKURYU WRESTLING

TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - JANUARY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. EXTERIOR OF NEW YEAR'S RING-ENTERING RITE PREMISE

8. HAKUHO LOOKING ON AND BOWING

9. HAKUHO SQUATTING AND CLAPPING HANDS

10. HAKUHO GETTING READY TO STAND / HAKUHO'S LOINCLOTH (MAWASHI) WITH ANA LOGO

11. VARIOUS OF HAKUHO TAKING STANCE AND LOOKING ON

12. HAKUHO STANDING AND BOWING

13. HAKUHO ARRIVING FOR NEW YEAR'S RING-ENTERING RITE AT ANNUAL CELEBRATION

14. VARIOUS OF HAKUHO PERFORMING RING-ENTERING RITE

STORY: Japan's top-ranking sumo wrestler Hakuho tested positive for COVID-19, the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) announced on Tuesday (January 5).

Mongolian-born Hakuho, who is the longest-serving yokozuna - top-ranked sumo wrestler - of all time announced via the JSA website that he took a COVID-19 test after losing his sense of smell. Hakuho will seek the advice of specialists, and the other wrestlers in his Miyagino stable will also be tested, according to the statement.

The sumo's positive test comes just five days before the sumo New Year Grand Tournament is due to start on Sunday (January 10). So far, the JSA has not said whether the tournament will be postponed. In May, 28-year-old sumo wrestler Shobushi died due to multiple organ failures related to the coronavirus after he became infected.

As of Tuesday, Japan reported 249,246 cases of coronavirus and 3,693 deaths.

(Production: Jack Tarrant)