Aonishiki is injured, apparently

[Moti Dichne]

Ozeki Aonishiki withdrew from the Haru Jungyo held in Kobe on the 31st. Tour director Takadagawa said, "He returned (to Tokyo) due to an injury. We will consult with him regarding his physical condition, but I think he will be able to rejoin at some point." The tour is a long one, starting on the 29th at Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture and continuing for nearly a month until April 26th in Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture. Details of the injury is pending the official medical certificate, but sources say it is believed that he fractured his left leg during Haru basho.  where he aimed to become a Yokozuna by winning consecutive yusho. He suffered a surprising makekoshi on the final day. His streak of 14 consecutive bashos with a kachikoshi since his debut in Jonokuchi has been broken, and he will suddenly be in danger of demotion in May . The day before, on the 30th, he appeared at an event in Matsubara City, Osaka Prefecture, where the Haru lodgings are located, and expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I want to show a strong Aonishiki next basho." The jungyo today, which drew an audience of over 8,000, originally scheduled a match between Yokozuna Houshouryuu and Aonishiki. When the announcement of Aonishiki's withdrawal was made before the Makuuchi dohyo-iri, sighs rippled through the crowd. Ura, who was scheduled to face  Ichiyamamoto stepped in as a substitute for Aonishiki, taking on two matches in one day to make up for the absence.