Injury-plagued former ozeki Takakeisho will likely decide during the ongoing Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament whether he retires or continues to wrestle, his stablemaster Tokiwayama said Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Takakeisho, currently a sekiwake, withdrew on Sept. 10, the third day of the 15-day event at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, because of cervical disc herniation.
"We want to make a decision by the end of the tournament," his stablemaster said on the 10th day. "I think a conclusion will be reached sometime soon."
With a 5-10 win-loss record in the previous tourney in July, Takakeisho dropped to sekiwake from ozeki after spending 30 tournaments at the sport's second-highest rank.
The four-time champion in the elite makuuchi division, struggling with chronic neck pain, needed at least 10 wins this month for an immediate return to ozeki but lost his first two matches.
This year, Takakeisho has withdrawn from four of five tournaments while having a winning record once.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Outright leader Onosato beats Wakamotoharu to stay perfect
Sumo: Unbeaten Onosato retains 1-win lead midway through Autumn meet
Sumo: Wakamotoharu knocks ozeki Kotozakura to keep pace with leader
