Takanohana retires

[thomas]

Yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana retires from active sumo.

Takanohana retires from ring

Yokozuna Takanohana on Monday announced his retirement from the sumo ring, citing physical problems sparked by a knee injury two years ago. The announcement came following the popular wrestler's back-to-back losses on Saturday and Sunday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, and ended long-held speculation on his retirement. [...]

Takanohana, whose real name is Koji Hanada, sustained an injury to his knee cartilage on the 14th day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in 2001. Although he managed to defeat his rival Musashimaru the following day and win the tournament, the injury prevented him from participating in the next seven tournaments. [...]

Takanohana entered the world of sumo at the age of 15, and gradually gained popularity along with his older brother, Wakanohana, after he first stepped into the ring in 1988. After snaring a makushita tournament win in the summer of 1989 at the age of 16 years and 9 months, he went on to become a juryo wrestler when he was 17. He entered sumo's makuuchi division at the age of 17 years and 8 months, and became the youngest wrestler to win a makuuchi tournament in 1992 at the age of 19 years and 5 months. He ascended to sumo's top yokozuna rank after winning the Kyushu tournament in 1994.

=> http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20030...sp001002c.html

=> http://www.zakzak.co.jp/top/t-2003_01/3t2003012001.html

Below: Takanohana with his former fianc馥, actress Rie Miyazawa