Komusubi Takayasu withdrew from his third-day bout at the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday with lower back pain, but hopes to return to duty before the basho ends.
According to his stablemaster, Tagonoura, the former ozeki, who returned to the three sanyaku ranks below yokozuna for the first time since last January, felt pain ahead of his Monday bout, a loss to ozeki Kirishima.
While the prognosis submitted to the Japan Sumo Association stated the wrestler's recovery would take about two weeks, Takayasu would like to return to action at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan if his condition improves, Tagonoura said.
Takayasu will forfeit his Tuesday bout with No. 3 maegashira Gonoyama, leaving him with a 1-2 record. If he fails to return he faces certain demotion for failing to win eight bouts.