Sumo-Yokozuna Kakuryu retires after missing five straight tournaments: Kyodo
24/03/2021 07:05
March 24 (Reuters) - Sumo grand champion Kakuryu has retired
after missing five consecutive tournaments, Kyodo News reported
on Wednesday, leaving Hakuho as the sport's only active
yokozuna.
Mongolia-born Kakuryu, 35, made his professional debut in
2001 and reached the sport's highest ranking of yokozuna in
2014, becoming the 71st wrestler to do so.
Elbow, leg and back injuries have limited his participation
in tournaments recently and he was given a warning in November
over his lack of activity in the ring.
Kakuryu, who has acquired Japanese citizenship, won the last
of his six championships in 2019.
Kyodo said his retirement had been approved by the Japan
Sumo Association.
(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford
)
((Arvind.Sriram@thomsonreuters.com;))