Shamed yokozuna Asashoryu retires with immediate effect.

[Swami]

Following a meeting with the directors of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, disgraced Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu finally did the decent thing and retired, after the latest of his many scandals, totally unbecoming of a yokozuna.

I simply do not rate him as a rikishi or a yokozuna and never will.

Swami:mad:

[Mrs. JR Ewing]

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Interview: Asashoryu 'never expected' retirement would be this way

Asashoryu leaves Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan after a news conference on his retirement on Thursday. (Mainichi)Mongolian grand sumo champion Asashoryu announced his retirement on Thursday amid a growing criticism over mid-January's drunken rampage, in which he hit a man in the face and left the victim with a broken nose. The announcement was made during a press interview held after questioning by the Japan Sumo Association board of directors over the incident. Questions and answers of Asashoryu's news conference follow:

Q: When did you make up your mind to retire?

Asashoryu: I started considering it during discussions with my stablemaster (after the January tournament).

Q: What did you discuss?

A: Besides whether I really hit the man or not, we've discussed (how to express) my apologies for the great trouble I've caused everyone, and my responsibility as a yokozuna.

Q: Did you ever imagine that you would be retiring today?

A: I was mentally unstable during the break after the January tournament, and was panicking over what would happen next. There is a significant gap between what really happened and what the media has reported, so I decided to wait and see how things would play out. But at the end of the day, I should be the one to draw the line.

Q: What differences were there between what you've actually done and what was reported by the media?

A: I'd rather not talk about it.

Q: How did you feel when you made up your mind?

A: I knew this moment would come someday, but had never expected it would be this way. But I had to make a choice, since it's my responsibility.

Q: Are you satisfied with your decision?

A: To be honest, I want to take a break.

Q: Do you feel you did all you could as a wrestler?

A: If that's what people think, I would be happy.

Q: What was the sumo world like for you?

A: Everything started with the call from my stablemaster. I owe him a lot, in a lot of ways. Life is long and I'm still 29. I'm looking forward to what I can do in the next stage of my life and I'll do my utmost.

Q: What does your stablemaster mean to you?

A: He has been like my parent for the past decade. There are meetings and partings in our life, and I had imagined sitting next to him (at a press conference to announce retirement). I cannot thank enough to my master and his wife.

Q: What was the most memorable moment for you as a yokozuna?

A: The bout against Kotonowaka in 2004's Nagoya grand sumo tournament. My master told me that was the best match ever.





Interview: Asashoryu 'never expected' retirement would be this way

Asashoryu leaves Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan after a news conference on his retirement on Thursday. (Mainichi)Mongolian grand sumo champion Asashoryu announced his retirement on Thursday amid a growing criticism over mid-January's drunken rampage, in which he hit a man in the face and left the victim with a broken nose. The announcement was made during a press interview held after questioning by the Japan Sumo Association board of directors over the incident. Questions and answers of Asashoryu's news conference follow:

Q: When did you make up your mind to retire?

Asashoryu: I started considering it during discussions with my stablemaster (after the January tournament).

Q: What did you discuss?

A: Besides whether I really hit the man or not, we've discussed (how to express) my apologies for the great trouble I've caused everyone, and my responsibility as a yokozuna.

Q: Did you ever imagine that you would be retiring today?

A: I was mentally unstable during the break after the January tournament, and was panicking over what would happen next. There is a significant gap between what really happened and what the media has reported, so I decided to wait and see how things would play out. But at the end of the day, I should be the one to draw the line.

Q: What differences were there between what you've actually done and what was reported by the media?

A: I'd rather not talk about it.

Q: How did you feel when you made up your mind?

A: I knew this moment would come someday, but had never expected it would be this way. But I had to make a choice, since it's my responsibility.

Q: Are you satisfied with your decision?

A: To be honest, I want to take a break.

Q: Do you feel you did all you could as a wrestler?

A: If that's what people think, I would be happy.

Q: What was the sumo world like for you?

A: Everything started with the call from my stablemaster. I owe him a lot, in a lot of ways. Life is long and I'm still 29. I'm looking forward to what I can do in the next stage of my life and I'll do my utmost.

Q: What does your stablemaster mean to you?

A: He has been like my parent for the past decade. There are meetings and partings in our life, and I had imagined sitting next to him (at a press conference to announce retirement). I cannot thank enough to my master and his wife.

Q: What was the most memorable moment for you as a yokozuna?

A: The bout against Kotonowaka in 2004's Nagoya grand sumo tournament. My master told me that was the best match ever.

[Swami]

What did he expect? He is supposed to be a role model and this is the way he behaves. He should have been expelled rather than given the easy option of retiring.

Swami