Wakatakakage Wins His Juryo Return After Amputation-Crisis Surgery
West Juryo 5 Wakatakakage, 31 (Arashio), beat East Juryo 5 Ryuden, 35 (Takadagawa), by yorikiri on Kyushu Day 1, hitting low from the tachi-ai, getting his right arm inside and driving forward without pause. 'I tried to wrestle my own sumo. Now that the basho has started I concentrated, and I think my body moved,' he told Nikkan Sports.
He won his second makuuchi yusho at Natsu, then developed compartment syndrome in his left thigh before Nagoya. Nikkan Sports and Daily Sports say he underwent emergency surgery four times; delayed treatment could have meant amputation. After two full absences he has fallen to juryo. 'I want to get on the dohyo while feeling gratitude toward the family, my stablemaster and everyone who supported me through the comeback,' he said.
ABEMA TIMES reports fans reacted strongly to the large surgical scar on his left leg. Announcer Funayama noted that a long line ran across the leg, suggesting a wide area had been operated on. Fan reactions included 'I've never seen a surgical scar like this' and 'I'm crying.'
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports · Yahoo! Japan Sports (ABEMA TIMES)