Ex-Collegiate Yokozuna Wakanofuji Goes 2-0 in Return From Broken Collarbone: 'My Heart Won't Stop Racing'
Sports Hochi reports that West Sandanme 29 Wakanofuji (Kasugano), back after sitting out two straight basho, beat East Sandanme 29 Churafuji (Isegahama) by yorikiri on Day 3 to go 2-0. 'I calmly got my left arm inside. It was good,' he said.
The Mongolian former collegiate yokozuna debuted at the bottom of makushita via tsukedashi in January this year and won the makushita title 7-0 in March. In May, with juryo in sight, he broke his right collarbone in his Day 3 bout against Arashifuji (Isegahama). He won the bout but had surgery, withdrew, and missed the next two basho.
During the layoff he could only do basics such as shiko and suriashi, and he did not resume full sparring until after this basho's banzuke came out, about six months off. 'It hasn't dropped off as much as I thought, and my body isn't bad,' he said. 'I get to do the sumo I love, and my heart won't stop racing.'