Despite saying he was « close to his ideal shape » before the tournament, Kisenosato lost to komusubi Mitakeumi on opening day. He was handed his second and third upsets by top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo and Tochiozan.
The retirement of Kisenosato, a fan favorite and a big draw, leaves two wrestlers at the top of the banzuke — Mongolians Hakuho and Kakuryu.
Not counting his forfeit on Day 5 of November’s Kyushu meet, Kisenosato has posted eight straight losses since September, the worst run for a yokozuna since the 15-day grand tournament format began in the summer of 1949.
In March 2017, Kisenosato became the first Japanese-born wrestler in 19 years to gain promotion to yokozuna. He won his second straight championship on his yokozuna debut at the following tournament.
Nagging injuries to his knee, ankle, chest and arm, however, forced him to withdraw from a yokozuna-record eight straight grand tournaments between May 2017 and July 2018, raising questions over his ability to continue his career as a grand champion.
The Tagonoura-stable wrestler finished with a 10-5 record on his comeback at the September tournament to temporarily fend off calls for his retirement, but he lost four straight bouts to open November’s Kyushu meet, the most by a yokozuna in 87 years.
The result in November prompted the Japan Sumo Association’s yokozuna council to express dissatisfaction with his performance and revived commentary that he would be forced to call time on his career depending on his performance in Tokyo.
Although Kisenosato was unable to meet comeback expectations at the ongoing meet, sumo elder Nishiiwa, a former coach at the Tagonoura stable, gave credit to the wrestler for entertaining the fans with his own drama in the sumo ring.
« At the end, people saw him as a weak wrestler but he did enough, » Nishiiwa said.
« It was impressive the way he chased that one win. Unarguably strong yokozuna are okay, too, but I like yokozuna like Kisenosato who look and act desperate on the dohyo, » he said.
Kisenosato made his professional sumo debut in March 2002 at the age of 15 and joined the top makuuchi division in 2004.
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Respect pour sa longue carrière, même si être Yokozuna aura précipité sa fin.
Trop de blessures (comme beaucoup en même temps) mais sa pose des questions pour le futur à la NSK, faut il revoir les manières d'accéder au graal "Yokozuna"?
Car si on observe Kisenosato, il était un Ozeki respectable qui a connu un pic fulgurant de "réussite" lui permettant le Graal, mais était-il, au regard de sa carrière un probable futur Yokozuna?
Kotoshogiku aurait pu avoir le même destin il y a peu de temps, il était Ozeki, un pic de forme et le Japon attendait son Yokozuna maison. Malheureusement pour lui il n'a pas eu la réussite, mais leur parcours est similaire, un pic puis une inexorable descente.
Kotoshogiku a l'avantage de pouvoir continuer sa carrière car il n'est pas Yokozuna.
Bref, avec le scandale Harumafuji et la débâcle Kisenosato, le Yokozuna n'a pas la côte en ce moment.
Tout a fait d'accord avec cette analyse.
Respect également à Kisenosato.
Quant a une réforme du système d'accession au grade de Yokozuna, plutôt pour. Un Ozeki souvent kadoban peut il devenir un bon Yokozuna ? J'en doute.
Si Kisenosato ne s'était pas blessé aurait il fait mieux ? Mystère !
Mystère oui, mais c'est dommage ça le dessert plus qu'autre chose cette fin tardive... Son Heya aurait dû l'arrêter dès le tournoi de Novembre voir même avant. Outre les blessures, la pression d'une nation l'a totalement anéanti depuis un moment, il était pensif en combat, non combatif, comme si il était là à contre cœur. C'est triste. Pensons et buvons un verre à sa santé et sa carrière ! Merci Kisenosato.
Exact. Santé !