Yokozuna Hoshoryu pulled out Monday from the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament after injuring his right hamstring in his opening bout the previous day. The 26-year-old grand champion limped from the ring and was carried in a wheelchair following his Day 1 loss to komusubi Takayasu at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena. Hoshoryu’s stablemaster said the Mongolian-born grappler had no option to remain in the tournament after being unable to walk later Sunday night.

“It seems like something snapped,” said stablemaster Tatsunami, formerly komusubi Asahiyutaka. “He had been in good shape and perhaps let his guard down. We are very sorry to all the fans.”

Hoshoryu’s withdrawal leaves just two of the five wrestlers currently occupying sumo’s top two ranks — ozeki Kirishima and Kotozakura — still competing in the 15-day meet.

Yokozuna Onosato is out of action with a nagging rotator cuff injury, while ozeki Aonishiki damaged his ankle while preparing for the tournament. Both announced their absence on Friday.

Hoshoryu, the nephew of Mongolian great Asashoryu, has withdrawn from a tournament for the eighth time in his career and the third time since his promotion to sumo’s highest rank in March last year. The two-time Emperor’s Cup winner has yet to lift the trophy as a yokozuna.

KYODO NEWS

Published Date:2026-05-12