Wrestling: Nation mourns as sumo champ quits

Japan was in mourning yesterday after the retirement from sumo of Yokozuna Takanohana, the sport's most popular wrestler.

The 30-year-old, suffering from chronic knee problems, managed to win only four bouts out of seven in a tournament in Tokyo.

Takanohana, who holds 22 championships and has almost 800 career victories, tore right knee ligaments in winning his last tournament, in May 2001.

The grand champion, 184cm and more than 150kg, was the last active sumo wrestler in a family who have dominated the Japanese sport for 50 years.