Yokozuna Hakuho pulled out of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament due to a finger injury on Monday, following a stunning loss to No. 1 maegashira Hokutofuji on the first day Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
According to his stablemaster Miyagino, the yokozuna has worsened the condition of an injury to his right little finger suffered in the previous tournament in July. It has been diagnosed as a fracture.
This is the first time for the Mongolian-born yokozuna, who just obtained Japanese nationality on Sept. 3, to drop out of a tourney since he sat out the whole summer tournament in May.
Meanwhile in second-day action on Monday, yokozuna Kakuryu stayed on track for a second straight title and seventh overall by defeating Hokutofuji. The sole yokozuna in the tourney managed Hokutofuji's power and slapped him down for his second win.
Sekiwake Takakeisho -- who needs 10 wins in this tournament to regain the rank of ozeki -- pushed out No. 1 maegashira Aoiyama (0-2) to improve to 2-0. The sekiwake dominated the bout with his power while managing Aoiyama's tactic for dodging his thrusts.
Ozeki Goeido forced out No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo (1-1) using a left-hand belt hold to keep his record clean. Goeido needs eight wins in the tourney to exit from the kadoban status in which a losing a majority bouts means demotion to sekiwake.
Tochinoshin, another ozeki with kadoban status, suffered a further blow with his second loss of the basho as he was forced out by No. 2 maegashira Asanoyama (2-0).
Sekiwake Mitakeumi pulled down No. 3 maegashira Daieisho (0-2) on the edge to mark the first win of the basho.
Earlier, small-built sensation No. 11 maegashira Enho threw No. 10 maegashira Meisei (1-1) out of the ring to keep his record perfect.
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