Sumo Star Hoshoryu Reveals Knee Surgery, Autumn Tournament in Doubt
Listen to the story
Hoshoryu, a well-known sumo wrestler, has revealed that he underwent surgery on his right knee. He missed the previous tournament in September due to the injury.
Speaking about his condition, Hoshoryu admitted, "I did not think it was this bad." His comment suggests that the injury was more serious than fans had first believed.
Because of the surgery, it now looks difficult for Hoshoryu to take part in the upcoming Autumn tournament. He explained that without surgery, his recovery would have taken about a year.
The news has caused a strong reaction among fans, many of whom did not realize how serious his knee problem was. Some are now questioning whether this could affect his future in the sport, with speculation even turning to the possibility that he might consider retirement.
As a top-ranked wrestler, Hoshoryu's health is closely followed by sumo fans across Japan. His absence from major tournaments would be a significant loss for the sport.
For now, fans and sumo officials are waiting to see whether Hoshoryu will be fit enough to compete in the next tournament, or whether he will need more time to fully recover from his knee surgery.
Vocabulary10 words
- sumo
- a traditional Japanese sport where two large wrestlers try to push each other out of a ring
- surgery
- a medical operation to fix a problem in the body
- tournament
- a series of sports matches that decide a winner
- recovery
- the process of becoming healthy again after an illness or injury
- retirement
- the act of permanently stopping a job or career
- injury
- physical harm or damage to part of the body
- top-ranked
- having a very high position in a sport or competition
- compete
- to take part in a contest or sports event
- fit
- healthy and strong enough to do physical activity
- absence
- the fact of not being present somewhere
Quiz
Answer key
1. Right knee surgery 2. He was injured 3. One year
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Hoshoryu, a well-known sumo wrestler, has revealed that he underwent _____ on his right knee. He missed the previous tournament in September due to the _____.
Speaking about his condition, Hoshoryu admitted, "I did not think it was this bad." His comment suggests that the injury was more serious than fans had first _____.
Because of the surgery, it now looks difficult for Hoshoryu to take part in the upcoming Autumn _____. He explained that without surgery, his _____ would have taken about a year.
The news has caused a strong reaction among fans, many of whom did not realize how serious his knee problem was. Some are now questioning whether this could affect his future in the sport, with speculation even turning to the possibility that he might consider _____.
As a _____ wrestler, Hoshoryu's health is closely followed by sumo fans across Japan. His _____ from major tournaments would be a significant loss for the sport.
For now, fans and sumo officials are waiting to see whether Hoshoryu will be _____ enough to compete in the next tournament, or whether he will need more time to fully recover from his knee surgery.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think fans reacted so strongly to this news?
- How important is physical health for professional athletes like sumo wrestlers?
- Do you think Hoshoryu should return quickly or wait until he is fully recovered? Why?
- Have you ever followed a sports story where an athlete's injury affected their career?