NAGOYA, Japan — Mongolian Hakuho brushed aside Tochinonada on Saturday to hold on to sole possession of the lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

In the day's final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, grand champion Hakuho barely broke a sweat, getting a grip on Tochinonada's belt and shoving the No. 3 maegashira out to improve to a perfect 7-0 at the midway point of the Nagoya meet.

Tochinonada, who defeated Asashoryu on Thursday, fell to 3-4. Grand champion Asashoryu was forced to pull out of the tournament on Friday with injuries to his ankle and elbow.

In other major bouts, Mongolian sekiwake Ama stayed one win off the pace at 6-1 when he dodged to his side at the faceoff and used a series of arm thrusts to send ozeki Kaio over the edge. Kaio fell to 4-3.

Ozeki Kotomitsuki also kept pace and improved to 6-1 when he forced out No. 2 maegashira Hokutoriki, who has yet to post a win.

Bulgarian Kotooshu was swatted down to the dirt surface by No. 2 maegashira Asasekiryu (3-4) to suffer his third loss of the tournament.

Kotooshu, who dropped to 4-3, came into the 15-day meet hoping for promotion to grand champion but with three losses will have to wait for another tournament.

Chiyotaikai moved a step closer to securing the winning record he needs to maintain his ozeki status when he shoved out winless top maegashira Wakanoho to improve to 5-2.