Training news
Moti Dichne
Facing the Kyushu basho, Maegashira Yoshinofuji (24, Isegahama), who changed his name from Kusano to Yoshinofuji a few days ago, demonstrated his steady recovery from the right foot injury that forced him to miss this month's London Koen. On the 31st, he worked up a sweat with basic exercises and weight training at his heya in Dazaifu, Fukuoka. Though he was wearing a support on the injured area, he showed no signs of discomfort, performing shiko and speeding up his suriashi. During training at his heya just before leaving for the UK, he injured his calf and ankle, leaving him unable to walk. He reluctantly canceled the London trip, which he had "wanted to attend," and has been undergoing acupuncture treatment. He is expected to resume sumo training as soon as next week. He stated, "If I do it, I'll do it against Sekitori ," and is not considering resuming matches against younger/lower ranked rikishi while monitoring his condition. He plans to resume training after receiving painkiller injections. However, if he feels any severe pain, he said, "I will take a break without pushing myself too hard. But for now, I plan to enter Kyushu," and he wants to avoid missing the tournament as it will be his first tournament since changing his name. His Oyakata, Isegahama , said he will "see how it goes" and will carefully decide whether or not he will participate. Regarding Juryo Takerufuji, who missed the previous tournament due to an injury to his right upper arm and, like Yoshinofuji, did not do any sumo today, he said, "We won't know his situation until we see how it goes. They are doing their best to get back in time," expressing his hope for a speedy recovery.
In short, we'll see how it goes.
The rikishi said to be the strongest ever rookie to grace the land Mongolian Ochir trained today at home (Isegahama) against the likes of Hakuouhou and Atamifuji and was 6-4. However, he suffered a gash above his right eye during training at his heya in Dazaifu, Fukuoka on the 31st, and required six stitches. He worked up a sweat through weight training and participated in bouts against other sekitori of his heya. During the tachiai of the 10th match, he collided with Atamifuji's head, causing him to bleed above his right eye. Ochirsaihan immediately left the heya and went to a nearby hospital, where he promptly received six stitches. Returning from the hospital, Ochirsaihan said, "I got six stitches," but was smiling and said that the injury was not serious. It is unclear whether he will be able to recover to the point where he can do any sum in training.. After a training session with his heya in Yokohama on the 25th of this month, he said, "I hope I can make it to the tournament without any injuries," and with a wry smile, he said, "I tried not to get injured, but I got injured.." He has already participated in matches with sekitori rikishi at his heya, often overwhelming them, and many sumo insiders consider him to be at the level of a Yokozuna or Ozeki. His confidence is building, so he didn't seem shaken by his injury today. As he did during his training trip on the 25th, he spoke calmly, saying, "I'm not particularly excited or nervous."