Hakuho grappled with 20-year-old Kisenosato at the center of the ring before getting a left-handed grip on his opponent's belt and powering-driving him over the edge to stay one off the pace at 7-1. Kisenosato fell to 2-6.
Hakuho won the summer meet in May and is aiming for promotion to yokozuna with a second consecutive title win in Nagoya.
(Kyodo) _ Yokozuna Asashoryu overpowered Ama to maintain his spotless record in a share of the lead with ozeki Tochiazuma Sunday, while promotion-chasing Hakuho muscled out Kisenosato on the eighth day of action at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu pushed his opponent's feet up against the straw bales and set up Ama for a perfectly executed right-handed underarm throw as the No. 4 maegashira struggled to gain leverage in the final bout at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
The Mongolian grand champion improved to 8-0 with Tochiazuma, who posted the eight wins necessary to keep his ozeki status after winning a bout by default against disgrace-hit Russian Roho.
Asashoryu missed the summer basho due to a right elbow injury in May but is still the odds-on favorite to win his career 17th title as the 15-day meet enters the second week.
