Yokozuna Hakuho, coming off winning a record-extending 41st career title, has pulled out of the upcoming Kyushu Grand Tournament, it was announced Thursday.
Hakuho has not fully recovered after undergoing surgery on his right knee following his victory at the previous Autumn Grand Tournament, stablemaster Miyagino revealed.
It marks the fourth time this year that the 33-year-old Mongolian will miss all or part of a tournament, of which there are six each year.
The Kyushu tournament starts Sunday at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
After capturing the Emperor's Cup with a 15-0 record at the Autumn basho in Tokyo, Hakuho complained about discomfort in his right knee, which he had injured earlier in his career. That caused him to withdraw from the Autumn regional tour.
He underwent arthroscopic surgery in Tokyo on Oct. 18 to remove bone chips from his knee and right ankle.
He made the trip to Fukuoka, but was limited in his training to fundamental exercises such as light foot stamping and shuffling across the ring, thus setting back his preparations for the Kyushu tournament.
"He couldn't firmly plant on the foot stamping," Miyagino told reporters at the stable's lodgings in Sasaguri, Fukuoka Prefecture. "I think that his recovery is going well and he will be ready in time for the New Year's tournament [in January]."
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