TOKYO - Veteran wrestler Takayasu said Saturday he feels ready for the upcoming Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament despite resuming sparring only a day earlier following a left leg injury.
The former ozeki fought 13 practice bouts as he geared up to contest the 15-day meet starting Sept. 13 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan as a No. 2 maegashira.
"I'm monitoring my condition as I go," said Takayasu, the oldest wrestler in the elite makuuchi division at 36. "I won't be able to compete if I push myself too hard and suffer a recurrence of the injury."
Takayasu, who posted a 11-4 record in the previous tourney in July, pulled out midway through the summer regional tour late last month due to a left adductor muscle injury.
He skipped Friday's pre-tournament general practice session due to concerns about his condition but resumed practice bouts the same day.
"I expect to face highly ranked opponents in the opening days of the tournament, so I want to stick to my own style of sumo," Takayasu also said.
