Mongolian-born yokozuna Hakuho withdrew from the July Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday with three days remaining in the relocated event, which is now missing both grand champions.
According to his stablemaster Miyagino, Hakuho aggravated a right knee injury when he suffered his second loss of the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to sekiwake Mitakeumi in a "tsukiotoshi" thrust down.
The other Mongolian-born yokozuna, Kakuryu, dropped out of the race on Day 2. It is the first time since the New Year basho in January that the tournament will take place without both of the wrestlers at the top of the banzuke rankings.
