Yokozuna Onosato and ozeki Aonishiki, who is of Ukrainian origin, have officially withdrawn from the upcoming Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. The confirmation came on Friday (May 3, 2026) after both wrestlers were absent from the list of matches scheduled for the first two days of the 15-day tournament.
The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament is set to begin on May 10 in Tokyo. The withdrawal of Onosato and Aonishiki is a major blow to the event, as both are top-ranked wrestlers in Japanese sumo. Onosato, who was recently promoted to the rank of yokozuna, and Aonishiki, a Ukrainian ozeki, were unable to participate due to health reasons or injuries, although specific details have not been disclosed.
Their absence could alter the tournament's dynamics, giving other wrestlers a greater opportunity to shine in the competition for the championship.
