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Agence France-Presse

Sumo is facing a potential chasm at the top of the ancient sport for the first time in more than 30 years after the only yokozuna, Terunofuji, announced his retirement on Friday.
The Mongolian-born 33-year-old has been the only top-ranked sumo for more than three years, and only 73 wrestlers have reached his level in the history of the centuries-old sport.
But Terunofuji has struggled with injuries and withdrew from the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Thursday after forfeiting his bout.
He told reporters Friday that he was retiring to train young wrestlers after “a tough 14 years” in the ring.
“I’ve given everything but at this tournament I wasn’t able to perform as I’d like and you shouldn’t enter the ring if your mind and body are at half-strength,” he said.

“I feel that my body isn’t up to sumo so I have decided to retire.”
Terunofuji, who has won 10 tournaments in his career, is sumo’s only active yokozuna.
Mongolian Hoshoryu has a chance to gain promotion to the exalted rank if he impresses at the New Year tournament. He had four wins and one loss after the opening five days.
If he fails, sumo will have no yokozuna for the first time since March 1993, when Hawaiian-born Akebono made his debut at the rank.
“When I first became a yokozuna, I didn’t think I would be able to continue wrestling for very long,” said Terunofuji, who was promoted to the top rank in July 2021.
“But the fans and other people supported me and encouraged me and that feeling alone kept me going.”
Terunofuji has been sumo’s lone yokozuna since the September 2021 retirement of Hakuho, who had a record 45 tournament victories.
There are no set criteria for promotion from the second rank of ozeki, and cases are considered by the Yokozuna Deliberation Council.

Only one of the seven most recent yokozuna was born in Japan. Of the others, five were born in Mongolia, including Terunofuji, and one in the United States.
Terunofuji completed just two of six tournaments last year as he dealt with injuries and other health problems including diabetes.
He has missed all or part of 13 of 21 tournaments since being promoted to yokozuna.
Terunofuji, who was born Gantulgyn Gan-Erdene in Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar, said he was looking forward to his new career as a stablemaster.
“I want to develop wrestlers who don’t tell lies, who don’t yield,” he said.
“Those are the kind of wrestlers who become strong.”


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Japan

Terunofuji, Japan’s only sumo grandmaster, to retire after ‘tough 14 years in the ring’

Mongolian-born grand champion Terunofuji (right) entering the ring at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Tuesday. He withdrew from the tournament on Thursday after forfeiting his bout. Photo: AFP

Terunofuji (left) told his retirement press conference in Tokyo he would now develop young sumo athletes. Photo: AFP

Terunofuji after winning the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, his first career title, in 2015. Photo: Kyodo

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An animated form of Daniil Medvedev (left) smashing his racquet in his match against Kasidit Samrej on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Brazil’s animated Joao Fonseca during his first round match against Russia’s Andrey Rublev. Photo: AP

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Hong Kong boxer Tyson Ng says he has seen improvements in his game after becoming a registered mental skills sports coach. Photo: Handout

Tyson Ng is the first from the China region to become a four-belt WBC Asia champion. Photo: Handout

Tyson Ng says he longs for the technique and footwork of American Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Photo: AP

Sport

Other Sport

Mongolian-born 33-year-old has been only active yokozuna for more than three years, but injuries mean his body ‘isn’t up to sumo’ any longer


Mongolian-born 33-year-old has been only active yokozuna for more than three years, but injuries mean his body ‘isn’t up to sumo’ any longer.


Terunofuji, Japan’s only sumo grandmaster, to retire after ‘tough 14 years in the ring’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Mongolian-born 33-year-old has been only active yokozuna for more than three years, but injuries mean his body ‘isn’t up to sumo’ any longer

Mongolian-born 33-year-old has been only active yokozuna for more than three years, but injuries mean his body ‘isn’t up to sumo’ any longer