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Poll: Should Terunofuji Withdraw From March Tournament?

Andy Injuries , ,

Background: Terunofuji withdrew from the January tournament after breaking his collar bone. At the time, he was also hobbled with a knee injury. With only three wins he is kadoban and in danger of demotion to sekiwake if he does not log a winning record in March. The March tournament begins on 3/13. He pulled out of the January tournament on 1/15. Assuming they immobilize his shoulder, resting him and keeping him from aggravating the injury, it takes 6-8 weeks to heal a broken collarbone.

If he withdraws, the implications are clear, he will be demoted to sekiwake for the May tournament. He will then need to register 10 wins in May to secure promotion back to ozeki status. If he cannot do it, he’ll be treated like anyone else, needing 33 wins in three consecutive tournaments (unless you’re Goeido) to get promoted back to ozeki.

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Nagoya 2015, Day 1: Yokozuna survive, Goeido and Kotoshogiku fall (updated)

Andy Nagoya 2015 ,

Nagoya did not get off to a great start for the ozeki. Both Kisenosato and Terunofuji escaped with wins after surviving scares. And both Goeido and kadoban Kotoshogiku lost fairly quickly and weakly to their lower-ranked maegashira opponents. Kisenosato was driven to the edge by Tochinoshin who was very nearly able to plop the senior ozeki outside the ring but Kisenosato managed to get a toe hold against the bales and throw the top maegashira out. Terunofuji nearly slipped in his ozeki debut but was able to recover and eventually got the upper hand against Aoiyama.

Hakuho certainly faced a strong challenge against Takarafuji. He was never really out of control or in danger but Takarafuji held on in a standoff for quite a while before Hakuho was able to force a yorikiri forceout. Harumafuji’s elbow injury seemed to be seriously aggravated in this Day 1 match against Myogiryu. After a strongly met tachiai, Myogiryu forced Harumafuji into a sliding retreat all the way to the straw bales. The yokozuna used the leverage to regain control and force the action to the other side of the ring where he barely prevailed with a throw at the opposite bales as he was going down. While the officials congregated for a monoii, he could be seen clearly grimacing and nursing the elbow. Kakuryu saw off Ichinojo rather convincingly in his return.

Updated: Selected recaps from earlier matches below.

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