Reports from Tokyo this morning are that Ozeki Takakeisho has withdrawn from the Hatsu Basho as of day 10. His day 10 opponent, Okinoumi, will receive a fusensho / default win and advance to 6-4.
Takakeisho has been struggling since day 1, and it was clear that his pushing attack was, at best, at 80% power. Fans have been speculating that there is some undisclosed injury, possibly the earlier pectoral muscle tear, that was causing his poor performance and his withdraw on day 10. Prior to the basho, there had been talk of a possible Yokozuna bid should he win the Hatsu Basho, satisfying a notional 2 consecutive yusho requirement that is sometimes presented as criteria for promotion. Instead Takakeisho will enter the March tournament, which the NSK hopes to hold in Osaka, as a kadoban Ozeki needing 8 wins to maintain his rank.
For a healthy Takakeisho, this is not a problem. But this would depend on him getting treatment for whatever injury has sapped his power, and being healthy in time to return to competition in March.
Team Tachiai sincerely hopes Takakeisho is able to bounce back and return to his strong and dominant Ozeki ways soon. We will bring news of the injury report as soon as it is published.
If it’s the lingering pec issue, hopefully he’ll rest until May and do the Ozekiwake recovery again. 10 wins should be the hallmark of an ozeki, anyway. It would be nice to see him back healthy and not struggling again in March.
It’s a left ankle injury.
That makes a lot more sense than a pec injury suffered over a year ago that healed enough for him to do what he did the last two tournaments, then suddenly flared up to reduce him to what he’s been in this one.
How do you know? Could you share your source?
Ankle injury sustained on day 3 (vs. Hokutofuji). The medical certificate says “damage to joint ligament”. 3 weeks rest.
He hid it from Tokiwayama oyakata, telling him that he was “just off his game” and asking him to let him continue. Only after day 9 he told his master that “he had a slight ankle problem”.
https://hochi.news/articles/20210119-OHT1T50054.html
A real shame. I really like this kid. I wish him a much speedy recovery to whatever is ailing him.
Lets hope he drops a few lbs while he’s recuperating.
Kyodo News: According to his stablemaster Tokiwayama, the 24-year-old Takakeisho injured his ankle on Day 3 of the 15-day meet at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan, when he lost to No. 1 maegashira Hokutofuji.
Presumably when his leg collapsed at the end of the bout. However, he had already lost to Daieisho and Mitakeumi before that, and was already struggling against Hokutofuji. Before the bout, the announcer said “His tachiai hasn’t been great”. The ankle injury isn’t the whole story, but that’s all we are going to get, I suppose.
I hope Takakeisho recovers fast! Send him my best wishes, he is a warrior!!!!
SINCEREST BEST WISHES TO TAKAKEISHO FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY!!!