Word has come to Tachiai via NHK news (and multiple other sources) that Yokozuna Kakuryu has decided to withdraw from the September tournament in Tokyo. Sadly this leaves us in a “nokazuna” situation, with a greatly depleted Ozeki corps to boot. Earlier in the tournament, Yokozuna Hakuho withdrew with a broken finger, leaving Kakuryu the sole Yokozuna competing.
We assume he was injured day 4 or 5, and gave up 3 consecutive losses, usually a mark of a performance limiting injury. For Team Tachiai, his kyujo was expected. As a result, his day 8 opponent, Tamawashi, picks up his second fushesho / forfeit win of the tournament.
At the moment there is no injury reported, but I would guess it is one of his multiple chronic injuries. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Man, this is a punch to the gut. Get well soon, Big K.
Myogiryu kyujo now also official: http://sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoMain/absence/
“Pulled or torn right triceps surae”.
Seiro also out.
😭
“Suspicion of damage to the left knee medial collateral ligament”.
😭😭
How mean and cynical would it be to suggest that the real reason Yokozuna Kakuryu withdrew is that he just got beat 3 times in a row? I mean, maybe he got injured, but it’s not like there was anything glaringly, visibly wrong during those 3 losses other than some poor decision making against fired-up opponents. And he sure seemed Genki enough on days 1 through 4 ….
Well, what I often read here and there in some forums, withdrawing after some losses is rather a typical Hakuho behaviour, but Kakuryu? Or is it true that Yokozuna are supposed to withdraw for not handing out too many kinboshi?
I would hope they look at the future and not the past. Is he likely to lose more with the injury and come back stronger next tournament with the rest?
I don’t think it would be but he won last time out. Something is physically wrong.
It was clear on day 6 that he was not moving well. If Kakuryu is genki his mobility is excellent, and he uses that to disrupt any offense an opponent brings to a match. I suspected he had re-hurt his back on day 4, but the possible MCL injury is much more serious.