Asashoryu Returns
Sumo grand champion Asashoryu is back in Japan , and looking to reclaim his pre-suspension status as the sport’s dominant wrestler:
Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu returned to the raised- ring Sunday after a two-tournament ban was lifted, participating in the winter regional tour.
Sumo’s perennial bad boy was a little out of shape but in high spirits after his three-month layoff — a dramatic turnaround from his demoralized state after being hit with the suspension on Aug. 1.
“I am happy that I was able to have contact with everyone again,” Asashoryu said.
In the morning practice, Asashoryu squared off against makuuchi- division local native Yoshikaze and countryman Kakuryu, and even beat follow Mongolian grand champion Hakuho using a left-handed frontal takeout maneuver in an afternoon practice bout.
“I guess I felt both happy and nervous. In any case, I really wanted to get back in the ring. It was a great feeling,” said a fresh-faced Asashoryu, whose last appearance in the dohyo was the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July.
The winner of 21 Emperor’s Cup titles looked a little plump around the belly but had not lost much in the way of muscle in his shoulders and chest.
“I have been taking care to work out every day. But the other wrestlers look big,” Asashoryu said with a wry smile.
Over the next two days of the tour, the 27-year-old is planning to appear in the practice sessions again and might even take part in some actual exhibition bouts. “We’ll see how things go little by little,” Asashoryu said.
After practice, Asashoryu apologized to the Japan Sumo Association department in charge of the regional tour for playing in a charity soccer match in Mongolia, even though he had asked to be excused from the summer tour because of injuries.
