Takanohana prepares
for knee treatment

TOKYO(Kyodo) - Yokozuna Takanohana departed for France Monday morning for treatment on a career-threatening injury to his knee, officials of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) said.

Takanohana, whose knee injury forced him to sit out the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, will have his knee examined at a Paris hospital on Tuesday with three doctors having been assigned to treat to the grand champion.

"I think he judged that this is the best course of action to take," JSA chairman Tokitsukaze, said.

Takanohana sustained a damaged kneecap and partially dislocated his right knee in a bout against ozeki Musoyama on the 14th day of the summer tournament in May before winning his 22nd Emperor's Cup in a playoff victory over yokozuna Musashimaru the following day.

The injury later turned out to be worse than initially thought, leaving Takanohana out of the 15-day Nagoya meet that ended Sunday.

Takanohana's stablemaster and father Futagoyama said earlier this month that the 28-year-old yokozuna wished to receive treatment and undergo rehabilitation outside Japan.

"It's very likely Takanohana will be out for the rest of the year," said Tsuneo Watanabe, head of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, an advisory body to the JSA.

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