Injury-plagued grand champion wrestler Hakuho intends to compete in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament starting this weekend, the master of his Miyagino stable revealed Thursday.
The 36-year-old yokozuna will be fighting with his career on the line in the 15-day meet, which gets under way Sunday at Nagoya's Dolphins Arena, after missing all or part of the last six tournaments.
Hakuho has not fought since winning his first two bouts in March, when he suffered a knee injury that required surgery. He sat out May's Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in order to focus on regaining his fitness.
"His motivation hasn't dipped," said Miyagino. "I think he has that (retirement) in mind if he gives his all and things don't go well. Nobody knows that better than him."
"He was saying his 'leg doesn't hurt'...he's been training really well at the stable. His charges have gotten better and he has been moving really well."
The Mongolian-born wrestler has not completed a full 15-day meet since he won a record-extending 44th top-division championship in March 2020. He aggravated a knee injury in the following July event and withdrew on the 13th day after winning 10 bouts.
He had to settle for a 0-0-15 record in four of the next five tournaments due to injury and a bout with the coronavirus, putting him at risk of retirement.
In March, yokozuna Kakuryu, who like Hakuho was born in Mongolia before becoming a naturalized Japanese citizen, retired from the sport after sitting out five consecutive tournaments.
Both grand champions received stern warnings from the Japan Sumo Association in November over their absences from the ring.
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