Yokozuna Terunofuji Announces Retirement After Struggling in Start to New Year Basho

Terunofuji's career at the top of the sumo world came to an abrupt end on Friday, January 17, the sixth day of the New Year Basho. Although nobody should be surprised.

The Japan Sumo Association announced on Friday that the sport's lone grand champion had retired.

This comes after the 33-year-old Mongolian and 10-time Emperor's Cup winner withdrew from Thursday's bout against Gonoyama after going 2-2 through the first four days of the New Year Basho.

It was obvious that Terunofuji would struggle to get through a 15-day tournament.

"I haven't been able to wrestle the way I hoped to and thought I shouldn't stand on the raised ring anymore," Terunofuji said at a press conference at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Terunofuji will remain in the sumo world and coach wrestlers under the stable name Terunofuji, having already gained Japanese citizenship.

After he won his coveted 10th Emperor's Cup in July of 2024, it was just a matter of time.

*In the winner-take-all playoff, Terunofuji (left) grapples with Takanosho at the Nagoya Basho on July 28, 2024. (©SANKEI)*

Injuries Took Their Toll on Terunofuji

Terunofuji missed the final two tournaments of 2024 as he battled knee injuries and other ailments.

After reaching sumo's top rank in 2021, Terunofuji missed all or parts of 13 meets of 21 as a grand champion.

Unlike other wrestlers, yokozuna can't be demoted. Therefore, Terunofuji faced the option of either competing or retiring. The JSA will only tolerate so many withdrawals by a yokozuna and, clearly, Terunofuji had reached his limit.

Still, with 10 Emperor's Cups under his belt he will retire as a great yokozuna.

Terunofuji reached the second-highest rank of ozeki in July of 2015 and fought there until 2017. He tumbled all the way down to fifth-tier jonidan by March of 2019 due to injuries but fought his way back.

Meanwhile, unless Terunofuji's compatriot Hoshoryu can win the New Year Basho or post a championship-caliber record to win promotion to yokozuna, Terunofuji's retirement means the top rank will be vacant for the first time since 1993.

The last grand champion to retire was fellow Mongolian-born wrestler Hakuho. He called it quits in September of 2021 after winning a record 45 championships.

New Year Basho Update: Hoshoryu Rebounds From a Day 5 Defeat

In major bouts on Day 6 at the New Year Basho, ozeki Hoshoryu bounced back from a defeat on the previous day. Hoshoryu shoved No 3 maegashira Gonoyama (4-2) out from behind to improve to 5-1.

All the focus now is on Hoshoryu and whether he can earn promotion to sumo's highest rank. He trails three rank-and-filers who share the lead at 6-0.

Among them is third-ranked maegashira Oho, who used a bread-and-butter frontal push-out to defeat Tobizaru to stay tied for the lead.

No 2 maegashira Tobizaru, who has already defeated two ozeki and Terunofuji, couldn't pull off another big win and fell to 4-2.

Fifth-ranked maegashira Chiyoshoma unleashed a spectacular overarm throw at the center of the ring to send No 7 Mitakeumi (2-4) toppling while improving to a perfect 6-0.

Kinbozan of Kazakhstan emerged as one of the surprise frontrunners at 6-0 when the No 14 maegashira thrust down struggling rank-and-filer Kagayaki, who fell to 1-5.

Takerufuji, winner of the 2024 Spring Basho, shoved out fellow rank-and-filer Churanoumi (2-4) to improve to 5-1 along with Mongolian ironman Tamawashi, who lost to Takarafuji (2-4).

Kotozakura Falls to 1-5

Ozeki Kotozakura, who came into this basho chasing promotion to yokozuna, was shoved out by Atamifuji to drop to an unflattering 1-5. No 2 maegashira Atamifuji picked up his fourth win against two losses.

Ozeki Onosato overpowered fourth-ranked maegashira Shodai in the day's final bout to even his record at 3-3. Shodai stands at 2-4.