Wakanohana out of Nagoya
sumo with ankle injury

NAGOYA, July 2 (Kyodo) -- Yokozuna Wakanohana, still hobbled with a nagging ankle injury, will sit out the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, stablemaster Futagoyama said Friday.

It will be the third tournament in a row and 10th overall in which Wakanohana, 28, who pulled out midway through the previous two meets with injuries, has missed all or part of the 15-day grind.

After informing the Japan Sumo Association of Wakanohana's withdrawal Friday, Futagoyama said the scrappy yokozuna will need another two months for the ligaments in his left ankle to heal completely.

"When asked about the condition of the ankle, Wakanohana didn't give me an encouraging answer," said Futagoyama, who is also the grand champion's father. "I decided to have him sit out the tourney since as a yokozuna he should wrestle only in the very best condition."

At the Futagoyama stable's training site outside Nagoya, Wakanohana appeared relieved to be sitting out the upcoming tourney, explaining that he will continue training in an effort to be ready for the autumn meet in September.

"I haven't been able to put any pressure on my left ankle. I want to recover from this completely so I don't make the same mistake I did in the previous meet," Wakanohana said.

Wakanohana, who debuted at sumo's ultimate rank in Nagoya last year, pulled out of the spring tourney in March with a thigh injury and then withdrew from the summer meet in May with a swollen left ankle on the eighth day.

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Main bouts for 1st, 2nd days
of Nagoya sumo tourney

NAGOYA, July 2 (Kyodo) -- Makuuchi division bouts for Sunday and Monday, the first and second days of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium:

Sunday, July 4

Kotoryu 3 - 6 Ganyu
Ohinode 0 - 0 Wakanoyama
Tokitsuumi 0 - 1 Daizen
Yotsukasa 0 - 0 Terao
Wakanojo 1 - 1 Kyokutenho
Kotonowaka 12 - 4 Tochinowaka
Hamanoshima 8 - 7 Asanosho
Kyokushuzan 2 - 2 Shikishima
Musoyama 8 - 2 Tamakasuga
Aogiyama 1 - 2 Kaiho
Miyabiyama 1 - 0 Minatofuji
Tochiazuma 2 - 2 Higonoumi
Takatoriki 3 - 7 Dejima
Kaio 1 - 1 Toki
Akinoshima 2 - 2 Chiyotaikai
Takanonami 16 - 4 Tosanoumi
Wakanosato 0 - 2 Takanohana
Kotonishiki 18 - 23 Musashimaru
Akebono 1 - 0 Chiyotenzan

Monday, July 5

Ohinode 2 - 0 Kotoryu
Tokitsuumi 0 - 1 Ganyu
Wakanoyama 1 - 1 Daizen
Wakanojo 0 - 1 Yotsukasa
Terao 2 - 1 Kyokutenho
Hamanoshima 7 - 4 Kotonowaka
Tochinowaka 5 - 8 Asanosho
Musoyama 4 - 4 Kyokushuzan
Shikishima 1 - 0 Tamakasuga
Miyabiyama 1 - 1 Aogiyama
Kaiho 4 - 0 Minatofuj
Kaio 6 - 3 Higonoumi
Tochiazuma 10 - 4 Takatoriki
Toki 0 - 3 Dejima
Takanonami 1 - 0 Wakanosato
Tosanoumi 1 - 3 Chiyotaikai
Akebono 27 - 7 Akinoshima
Kotonishiki 13 - 32 Takanohana
Chiyotenzan 1 - 1 Musashimaru

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Results in Scoreboard

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