The ascension of veteran Mitakeumi to the rank of ozeki and Abi to sekiwake in Monday's latest Japan Sumo Association rankings put the spotlight on the two wrestlers' perseverance.Mitakeumi, a hot prospect out of university, rose rapidly to the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna, but needed 28 tournaments as a komusubi or sekiwake before his third grand tournament championship in January put him over the top and earned him promotion to ozeki.Abi, meanwhile, had one foot out of the sumo world in August 2020, when he offered to resign after it was revealed he repeatedly violated coronavirus…READ FULL ARTICLE