Yokozuna Hakuho, who underwent surgery on his right ankle and right knee last month, will withdraw from the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, his stablemaster Miyagino said Thursday.
Fellow Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu also announced his withdrawal, leaving Kisenosato the only top-ranked wrestler in the year's final basho.
The 33-year-old Hakuho lacked sufficient preparation for the tournament, which starts on Sunday at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, after he went under the knife in mid-October, leaving him always unlikely to compete in the year's final basho.