Sumo competition the youngsters wrestling to earn top place

They may be normal-sized young lads, but these boys have aspirations to be the biggest - literally - and the best.

They may not have the bulk of their adult counterpatrs, but they are attending a Sumo-wrestling competition in Tokyo to earn promotion to a higher rank.

The keen youngsters are among 300 Japanese wrestlers taking part in the annual competition, which is popular with sporting fans across the country.

The Japanese consider Sumo a modern martial art, even though the sport has a history spanning back several centuries.

The competitors attempt to heave each other out of the ring and the first boy to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of his feet loses the bout, which typically lasts less than a minute.