Akebono:
Ankle and shoulder injuries.

Akebono's sprained ankle will heal in three weeks and an inflammation in his left shoulder in about a month, Kyodo News quoted a doctor of Doai Memorial hospital in Tokyo as saying.

Akebono, or Chad Rowan, hospitalized yesterday, will have to skip the summer Sumo exhibition tour in August, but he will be able to compete in the next tournament in Tokyo starting Sept. 8, the doctor said.

His stable master Jesse Kuhaulua was not available for comment.

The 27-year-old Akebono hurt his shoulder and leg when he was knocked down by ozeki (champion) Wakanohana on the 14th day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

After the match, Akebono could be seen limping away, but tournament officials had not said whether he was seriously injured.

In his final bout with yokozuna Takanohana, Akebono, famous for his strong arm thrusts, failed to use either arm effectively. Takanohana easily pushed out Akebono and won his 14th tournament victory with a 13-2 record. Akebono finished 12-3.

Akebono sat out the January tournament with a knee injury after losing his first two bouts and then stayed out of the March tournament.

His record for the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in May was 10-5.