Former sekiwake Aminishiki, 40, currently a juryo sumo wrestler and the oldest in the paid sekitori ranks, on Tuesday said he will retire, giving up on a comeback to the dohyo ring because of delays in his recovery from injuries to his right knee.
His decision comes after he further injured his previously hurt right knee in his bout on July 8, the second day of the ongoing Nagoya Sumo Grand Tournament. He withdrew from the tournament the next day.
Aminishiki initially intended to return to the tournament. However, the No. 11 juryo's knee was recovering slower than he expected. This prompted him to decide against a return to the dohyo, which made certain he would drop to the unpaid makushita division. Therefore, he decided to retire from sumo.
Aminishiki, whose real name is Ryuji Suginomori, will soon submit a letter of retirement to the Japan Sumo Association. He will then be granted the Ajigawa toshiyori elder status.
"I have no regrets," Aminishiki told reporters in Nagoya on Tuesday morning. "I think the time has come to step down as a fighter."
A native of the town of Fukaura, Aomori Prefecture, Aminishiki made his debut in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in 1997 at the age of 18. He is a relative of his stablemaster Isegahama, the former yokozuna Asahifuji. Aminishiki was promoted to the makuuchi top division at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July 2000. His eight kinboshi wins against yokozuna are tied for the most among active wrestlers.
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