Sumo: Asashoryu hampered with knee injury

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TOKYO, Aug. 22 Kyodo -
Asashoryu faces a race against the clock to be fit for next month's Autumn
Grand Sumo Tournament after revealing Saturday he has suffered a knee injury
that will take four weeks to fully heal.
The fiery Mongolia grand champion hurt ligaments in his right knee during a
regional summer tour in Akita on Aug. 13.
Speaking to reporters with the knee heavily strapped, Asashoryu said he has
been undergoing treatment for a week but was hopeful of recovering in time to
make the autumn basho.
''It (the knee) has hurt since quite a while ago and I am in pain when I
stretch my leg,'' said the 23-time Emperor's Cup winner.
''It is the first time I have had a knee injury. It is going to be touch and go
for the (autumn) basho and I am just going to have to try and get it healed and
make it in time.''
The autumn tournament gets underway at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 13.
==Kyodo