Kakuryu Anand drops out due to elbow injury
The July grand sumo tournament started last Sunday with limited audience in Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo after a lengthy hiatus. The audiences were seen sitting far from each other to ensure social distancing guidelines.
Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu Anand was defeated by Japanese wrestler Endo on the first day of the tournament. He subsequently dropped out for the remainder of the tournament due to elbow injury. Anand may be forced to retire since he has been absent for most of the last four tournaments due to various injuries. The yokozuna title requires wrestlers to be active and be head and shoulders above the rest in terms of results. The upcoming tournament will decide whether Anand will be able to avoid a forced retirement.
Five Mongolian wrestlers are competing in the top makuuchi division of Sumo. Yokozuna Hakuho Davaajargal, who changed his nationality to Japanese to lay grounds to a continued career in sumo post retirement, remains undefeated after two days alongside with Tamawashi Munkh-Orgil and Terunofuji GanErdene. Kiribayama Lhagvasuren, a newcomer to top division, has failed to amaze after losing two matches to top-division stars Daieisho and Okinoumi. Experts are expecting Kiribayama to defend his position in top division in the next tournament.
Terunofuji Gan-Erdene made a spectacular unprecedented comeback to the top division after injury and medical treatment forced hims down to the sandanme fourth division. Fans love his hard work and expecting the former ozeki to be one of the strong contenders as he once won a top division tournament.
Newly promoted ozeki Asonayama is expected be the strongest contender to stop Hakuho from winning his 45th title.
Seven Mongolian sumo wrestlers are fighting juryo division, including Mitoryu Turbold and Ichinojo Ichinnorov with 2-0 record, and Azumaryu Todbileg and Kyoshuho Erdenebaatar with 1-1 records, alongside with wrestlers with no victory yet, Chiyoshima Munkhsaikhan, Hoshoryu Byambasuren and Daishoho Shijirbayar.
Yokozuna Hakuho said, “We skipped the May tournament and training was interrupted. Can’t tell who is in good shape. After five days of wrestling, wrestlers will get back to good shape.”
Famous wrestlers Tochiozan, Sookokurai and Mongolian wrestler Sero Unubold have announced their retirement prior to the July meet.
Terunofuji Gan-Erdene made a spectacular unprecedented comeback to the top division after injury and medical treatment forced hims down to the sandanme fourth division. Fans love his hard work and expecting the former ozeki to be one of the strong contenders as he once won a top division tournament.