Yokozuna Kisenosato informed the Japan Sumo Association on Thursday that he would withdraw from the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka on Day 5.
The 32-year-old started the basho with four losses to tie the record for most consecutive defeats to open a tourney by a yokozuna, set at the 1931 Spring tournament by Miyagiyama.
With two other yokozuna -- Hakuho and Kakuryu -- having skipped the tourney from the start, all yokozuna are out of a basho for the first time since the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July.
Kisenosato said at the Tagonoura stable in Fukuoka Prefecture on Thursday morning that he injured his right knee during an opening-day match against komusubi Takakeisho.
"I thought it was my duty [as a yokozuna] to remain in the tournament, but my body couldn't endure anymore," he said.
Kisenosato had been sidelined in all or part of eight consecutive tournaments from the summer basho in 2017, suffering a chest injury during a dramatic come-from-behind victory as a new yokozuna at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March that year.
With his career at stake, Kisenosato returned to the ring at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in September and managed to earn 10 wins. As the sole yokozuna in the current tourney, there were high hopes he could return to top form.
Kisenosato's career will likely again hang in the balance at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January.
Caption
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Kisenosato talks reporters at the Tagonoura stable in Fukuoka Prefecture on Thursday.
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