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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 30, 2003

Musashimaru still can't wrestle

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i-born grand champion Musashimaru may be forced to sit out the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March, his coach said.

Musashimaru, who missed the New Year tournament because of a wrist injury, has been limited to light workouts and may not be able to properly prepare for the spring meet in Osaka, his stablemaster Musashigawa said yesterday.

"I don't want to push him too hard with the injury," Musashigawa told reporters. "I hope he recovers in time but wrestling in the spring tournament is not a priority."

Musashimaru (or Wai'anae's Fiamalu Penitani) has been sidelined since aggravating the injury to his left wrist in November's Kyushu tournament.

If Musashimaru withdraws, newly promoted Mongolian Asashoryu would be the only grand champion, or yokozuna, in the spring tourney. Asashoryu won the New Year tourney with a 14-1 record and was promoted to grand champion yesterday.