Yokozuna Kakuryu has pulled out of the November 2020 basho, citing lower back pain.
That will be Kakuryu’s third tournament in a row, where he failed to compete either partly or fully. His last performance was a 12-3 jun-yusho, back in March.
Prior to that result, the Mongolian champion also failed to last fifteen days, in January 2020, November and September 2019. He won the Nagoya basho 2019, though.
Given the yokozuna’s poor form of late, missing out sumo’s final tournament of the year will undoubtedly raise fears of being compelled to hand his retirement papers.
We wish the six time grand champion a smooth recovery!
Michinoku oyakata says January will be the basho where Kakuryu will either have to show recovery or retire. Of course, he has no control over the YDC and they may show their middle finger and issue a “recommendation to retire” following November. But I think in going to the press and saying so publicly, he is hoping to mellow their decision into a mere “encouragement”, the same way they did with Kisenosato. This will buy Kakuryu two more months, and we can all pray that the Mongolian government will be kind enough to act within that time.
For those who are not in on the story:
How often has the YDC actually issued a recommendation to retire? Re-reading the Kisenosato stories, it seems like that was the first time they issued an encouragement since their founding in 1950?
They did only once – Asashoryu – who happened to hand in his resignation the same day. And they said they’d have given one to Harumafuji if he didn’t resign before they convened.
So I’m not sure why they’re making a fuss now: it’s not like 3 consecutive kyujo haven’t happened repeatedly on their watch: http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=3&n_basho=3&form1_rank=y&form1_wins=0&form1_year=1958-2020&form2_rank=y&form2_wins=0&form3_rank=y&form3_wins=0
Many of the greats are on this list: Taiho, Wajima, Akebono, Musashimaru, and of course the record-holder, Takanohana…
Well, a lot of recent kyujo, in Kakuryu’s case, and I think in Hakuho’s case they actually suspect he is staging his kyujo. In Kakuryu’s case, it kind of sticks out that it’s more like one good basho out of the most recent 7. It’s not as if the count is completely reset once the Yokozuna participates once.
I have seen two versions of the YDC charter – one that mentions consecutive kyujo, and one that doesn’t. It’s clear that if the kyujo is not consecutive it’s harder for them to complain, but I don’t think it’s a mathematical thing.
Given the COVID year, it would be pretty sh*tty of them to make such a recommendation (or really to convene at all). They should wait until a normal tournament can be held.
Totally, but that seems to be their middle name 🙄
5 years to renounce Mongolian citizenship? What do they do, plant a seed and wait for a tree to grow from it under which they will meet to decide the matter?
And yes, heal well Kakuryu, and best of luck with everything!
I was wondering the same. The real shame is that he has to do it at all, same like Hakuho, but that won’t change.
Kyokai website says Hakuho is also out, but it only says Hakuho and there’s no torikumi yet. It should be posted in about 10 minutes.
Confirmed. Kotoyuki also out as expected (he had surgery, though I don’t remember for which injury).