Musashigawa on Hoshoryu: He Should Have Healed First, but Now He Must Finish, 'Even 8-7'
In an interview with NEWS Post Seven published before Day 7, former yokozuna Musashimaru, now stablemaster Musashigawa, said Hoshoryu should have stayed out until his right knee was fully healed and then staked his career on his return: 'Judging by his sumo, the injury doesn't look completely healed. Unlike an ozeki, there's no kadoban.' But having chosen to compete, 'he has to compete to the end no matter what. Even 8-7 is fine; this time he just needs kachi-koshi. He's still a young yokozuna at 27,' adding that withdrawing midway would only bring greater pressure, something 'only former yokozuna understand.' Musashimaru himself retired during the 2003 Kyushu basho after a 3-3 start. Post Seven notes Hoshoryu has sat out five of his 10 basho as yokozuna.