2 top wrestlers withdraw from the summer sumo tournament; Terunofuji, Takakeisho withdraw after losing on day one

The Summer Grand Sumo tournament suffered a double blow just two days after its start when both yokozuna Terunofuji and ozeki Takakeisho withdrew on Monday.

Terunofuji had withdrawn from the previous tournament after seven days due to a back injury and suffered a side injury ahead of the summer tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, delaying his recovery.

Far from full strength, he suffered a day one loss to komusubi Onosato on Sunday.

For Takakeisho, this is the third tournament in a row in which he will have to miss all or part of the fifteen days. Hampered by a neck injury suffered during training, he was meekly forced out by No. 2 maegashira Hiradoumi on Sunday.

Takakeisho’s stablemaster Tokiwayama said there is little chance the wrestler will return to the tournament, ensuring he will enter the next tournament under kadoban status, meaning he will need a majority of wins to earn his to maintain rank.