Ozeki Kotooshu pulled out of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament with a hamstring injury on Saturday.

Kotooshu won his first four bouts at the 15-day meet at Ryogoku Kokugikan but hurt his left hamstring in a defeat on the fifth day to sekiwake Goeido. The Bulgarian was overpowered by Shohozan and sent to his second straight defeat on Friday.

Kotooshu will be fighting to save his ozeki status at the Kyushu meet in November if he sits out the remainder of this basho and posts a losing record. Kotooshu forfeits Saturday's scheduled bout against komusubi Takayasu and drops to 4-3.

Kotooshu, though, is hopeful of rejoining the tournament, according to his stablemaster Sadogatake.

"We will play it safe and rest for two or three days," said Sadogatake. "He (Kotooshu) wants to wrestle. (The injury) is not that serious."