Asahakuryuu

[Moti Dichne]

Reminder- Natsu basho commences next Sunday May 10th and will run through May 24th.

Asahakuryu, who will be competing iin Natsu at his highest rank ever, West Maegashira 8, was at asageiko at his heya in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, on the 3rd. He did some shiko and suriashi while watching the younger rikishi practice. He finished with some butsugari. A week ago, the skin on his left big toe had hardened, and he was unable to even do shiko. He was treated with antibiotics and IV fluids, and he was able to do sumo for the first time at the YDC soken on the 1st. He also had to withdraw from the jungyo from April 3rd due to a lower back injury. Although there are concerns about his physical condition, he explained his current state, saying, "My back is completely fine now. My leg is also getting better. I'm at 65% to 70%, but I still have a week." He has risen eight ranks from Maegashira 16 in Haru to Maegashira 8. He made the biggest banzuke leap among the Maegashira rikishi and frankly admitted, "I thought I'd be around M10, so I was a little surprised." While he said, "I'm happy to see my name somewhere in the middle of the banzuke", he also expressed his determination regarding matches against higher-ranked rikishi, saying, "I don't particularly think about it. I'll just have to deal with it when the time comes. My goal is to have a kachikoshi."

He will be participating in the  Paris jungyo scheduled for June after Natsu. On the 1st, he visited the French Embassy with Yokozuna Houshouryuu and others to apply for a visa. "The atmosphere was completely different from Japan, it was amazing. It was a magnificent place," he said, impressed. The 27-year-old from Mongolia, who said he had only been to Korea before, smiled and said he was "looking forward" to the long-awaited European tour. Asahakuryuu had an 8-7 record in his debut in Makuuchi (January) and a 10-5 record in Haru.. Since Haru 2023 when he was in Makushita, he has had a kachikoshi for seven consecutive tournaments, winning the yusho once each in the Makushita and Juryo  during that time. [Ryotaro Yamada]