Yokozuna Hoshoryu's participation in September's Grand Sumo autumn tournament is in doubt after he underwent surgery on his right knee in late July, his stablemaster said Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, the stablemaster said it remains unclear whether Hoshoryu will be able to compete in the autumn tournament. He stressed that the 26-year-old wrestler's recovery will be the deciding factor.
Hoshoryu, who won the spring tournament in March, previously withdrew from the summer tournament in May due to a knee injury. The surgery in late July was intended to address the issue.
The Grand Sumo autumn tournament is scheduled to begin on September 8 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. If he is unable to participate, it would mark the second consecutive tournament Hoshoryu misses, potentially affecting his yokozuna status.
The stablemaster also expressed caution, saying the top priority is ensuring Hoshoryu fully recovers rather than risking competition before he is ready. A final decision will be made after monitoring his recovery progress in the coming days.
