Asahakuryuu back situation

[Moti Dichne]

Asahakuryuu s already back in keiko at his heya in Tokyo after leaving the jungyo a few days ago due to back pains.. While watching the younger rikishi train, he carefully checked the condition of his lower back and moved his body with exercises such as shiko. He had been part of the Spring Jungyo, which began on March 29th, from the first day, but injured his back during morning practice in Yasushi, Shiga Prefecture on the 2nd of this month, and was absent from the matches that day. "When I woke up the next morning, I couldn't do anything. It was a sudden lower back injury." When he reported this to the tour director Takadagawa, he was immediately told to "go home" and ordered to return to Tokyo without forcing himself to do anything, so he withdrew from the tour held in Mukoushi, Kyoto Prefecture on the 3rd. Even after returning to Tokyo, he spent most of his time lying down in his room, but gradually his back condition improved with daily hour-long baths. "When my body warmed up, I was able to walk a little at a time. When my body got cold, I felt like I couldn't put any strength into it. Now I feel much better." During interviews after practice, he remained standing the entire time, moving his body in small, quick movements to avoid getting cold. He is still unable to do shiko repeatedly, and is not yet able to do suriashi. He plans to resume sumo keiko gradually while monitoring his condition. "If I'm able to return (to the tour), I'm thinking of doing so, but I don't know what will happen yet," he said, prioritizing a full recovery above all else. Regarding Natsu basho  he said, "Once you get a lower back injury, it tends to become a recurring problem, but it doesn't linger for long. I don't think there will be any problem with me entering." Asahakuryuu had an 8-7 record in his debut in Makuuchi at the January basho and a 10-5 record at the March basho. Since last year's Haru basho when he was in Makushita, he has had a kachikoshi for seven consecutive bashos, winning the yusho once each in Makushita  and Juryo during that time.