By James Caven

Copyright dailystar

Sumo mania is sweeping the UK and leaving London at risk of running out of noodles as the wrestlers chow down massive meals. Fighters have been devouring huge amounts of grub in restaurants as they enjoy their time in the capital. They’ve been sightseeing at top tourists spots including Abbey Road, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, along with guzzling Guinness at pubs, eating hot dogs and visiting McDonald’s branches. Organisers of this week’s sold-out Grand Sumo Tournament at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall said the wholesaler has run out of noodles while competitors are devouring 70 kilos of rice a day too. They’ve been forced to reinforce toilets and buy bigger chairs, while also warning spectators sat on ringside cushions about the risk of being squashed. More than 40 of Japan’s top wrestlers are due to compete during the five-day spectacle, which kicked off on Wednesday night (October 15). The staggering amount of food that they can polish off was confirmed by London restaurant Hawksmoor Seven Dials. Four of the sumo stars visited on Monday night and ate rib and porterhouse steaks, oysters, lobster, mash, steak carpaccio, mackerel salad, lobster and mac & cheese, according to the Telegraph. Another group of four visited the Japanese restaurant Bone Daddies, in London’s Soho, where they worked their way through chicken wings and ramen. One staff member, called Julia, told the same publication: “I gasped when they walked in. “They are so tall but gentle giants. It was lovely. They didn’t speak much English but gave us thumbs up and smiles.” Donagh Collins, the head of co-organisers Askonas Holt, told Sky Sports: “We are going through 70 kilos of rice a day. Somebody told me that the wholesaler for the noodles has run out of noodles. We’re really pushing the system here.” The first night saw excited fans cheering and applauding while sipping on pints and watching the sport’s elite stars battle it out in the ring in 20 fierce bouts. It included ‘David vs Goliath’ battles, as no weight division meant some fighters had to compete against wrestlers who were as much as 60kg (9.5stone) heavier than them. Organisers have tried to include all the traditional rituals, with a ceremony held before the first match to purify and bless the clay ring, while 40kg of salt is thrown a day to try and cleanse it from evil spirits. Fans from across the UK tuned in to watch the clashes live on the BBC. Hiro Morita, the host of the Japan Sumo Association’s English-language YouTube channel Sumo Prime Time, provided analysis and commentary. He described the wrestlers who are competing this week as being, “the best of the best, the cream of the crop”. Spectators went wild as he told them: “When the slaying of the giant takes place the crowd goes berserk. It’s going to go down to the wire. Anything could happen. It’s hard to predict.”