Wakatakakage Goes 4-0, One of Only Two Unbeaten in Juryo
West Juryo 5 Wakatakakage, 31 (Arashio), beat East Juryo 8 Midorifuji, 30 (Isegahama), on Day 4 to go 4-0, Nikkan Sports and Sports Hochi report. He hit from below, opened to his left and deflected Midorifuji, then got behind him for an okuridashi. 'I think I'm moving well. I concentrated on my own sumo, that's all.' He had a 5-1 career record against Midorifuji from their makuuchi meetings.
The May champion developed compartment syndrome in his left thigh before the July basho and had emergency surgery; Nikkan Sports says he needed four operations and could have lost the leg had treatment come later. After two straight absences he decided with stablemaster Arashio to return this basho. He and Tamashoho are the only juryo men without a loss. 'I'll just fight each bout with focus, take care of my body and go again tomorrow.'
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi)