Ailing Musashimaru pulls out of tournament

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i's Fiamalu Penitani, once an ironman sumotori, has dropped out of the New Year's Sumo Tournament because of a recurring injury to his left wrist.

Penitani, 31, who competes as yokozuna Musashimaru, was 1-2 in the 15-day tournament in Tokyo. He lost to Kyokushuzan yesterday, then decided to withdraw.

Musashimaru injured the wrist while winning the Kyushu Basho in November and had been slow to get in competitive shape as he tried to let the injury heal.

It is only the third time Musashi-maru has dropped out of a tournament in his nearly 13-year career. He went 11 years — 838 consecutive matches — before missing his first match in January 2000 because of a severely sprained left wrist.

Musashimaru's withdrawal leaves the tournament without a grand champion. Takanohana, 30, the only other yokozuna among the more than 600 active sumotori, is missing his fourth consecutive tournament because of injuries.

Musashimaru was criticized last week by a member of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council for missing a special exhibition workout session. Stablemaster Musashigawa strongly defended his wrestler.