Rank and filer Daieisho pushes ozeki Shodai out of the ring on the fourth day of the November Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Nov. 11, 2020. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Newly promoted ozeki Shodai pulled out of the ongoing November Grand Sumo Tournament on Thursday, submitting a medical certificate to the Japan Sumo Association stating he has a left ankle ligament injury that requires approximately three weeks of treatment.

Shodai, who was promoted to sumo's second highest rank in September, was off to a 3-1 start in the final basho of the year but became the second of three ozeki to pull out of the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

"He said he's concerned because his ligaments seem to be stretched," said Edagawa, who coaches for the Tokitsukaze stable.

"I think he wants to fight again (in the ongoing basho) but I don't want him to push it," he said.

If Shodai cannot return and achieve a winning record of eight wins or more he will become a demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki for the January tournament.

On Tuesday, fellow ozeki Asanoyama also withdrew due to injury, leaving just Takakeisho in action. Both grand champions, Hakuho and Kakuryu, said before opening day on Sunday they would not compete.

Shodai sustained the injury during his third-day bout in which he survived a close call against the komusubi Takayasu to remain unbeaten. He suffered his first defeat on the fourth day and will forfeit his day-five bout against No. 2 maegashira Onosho.

It is the first time the 29-year-old Shodai, who hails from Kumamoto Prefecture, has exited midway through a tournament since he made his sumo debut in the spring of 2014.


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