The Japan Sumo Association released a medical report for yokozuna Hoshoryu (26, from Tatsunami stable), who will withdraw from the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament starting from Day 2. The diagnosis stated a “right hamstring injury,” adding that he “sustained the injury during a bout on May 10 and is expected to require approximately two weeks of rest.”
Hoshoryu injured his right leg during his loss to Takayasu on the opening day. While being pressed down on the head by his opponent’s right hand, he received an overarm throw from the left, causing his legs to spread wide. At that moment, he felt pain near his right thigh. He limped back along the hanamachi corridor with the help of a shoulder, then got into a wheelchair still wearing his mawashi and headed to the sumo clinic inside the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.
On this day, his stablemaster, former komusubi Asahoyoshi of Tatsunami stable, spoke to the media, explaining, “Because he was limping, I decided he couldn’t compete. It wasn’t the yokozuna’s call—it was my judgment. It’s a muscle tear.” After deciding on the withdrawal, he added, “He looked disappointed. His condition wasn’t bad, though.”
This marks Hoshoryu’s eighth absence since the Nagoya tournament last year. Oonosato (25, from Nishi-Second-Fu stable) also withdrew from the opening day, meaning both yokozuna will be absent from the tournament. The last time both east and west yokozuna were sidelined was the Spring Tournament of 2021, when Hakuho and Kakuryu were absent. As a result, Fujinokawa, Hoshoryu’s scheduled opponent on Day 2, will receive a default win.
