Saina Nehwal makes it to Thailand Open quarterfinal

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal notched up a straight-game victory over Chinese Li Han to advance to the quarterfinals of Thailand Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok on Thursday. The world number five Indian rode on her smashes to see off Lan 21-17, 21-13 in a 42-minute women’s singles match at the CU Sport Complex, says a report in The Times Of India.

The 22-year-old from Hyderabad will next take on the winner of the match between Japan’s Kaori Imabeppu and eighth seed Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand.

Meanwhile according to a report in Hindustan Times, forwards Rupinder Pal Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki are all set to be axed from the senior hockey squad that will take part in the London Olympics. The squad is set to be formally announced here on Friday but the selection committee has already decided on 16-member squad that will be competing at the quadrennial extravaganza.
While Rupinder and Walmiki are all set to get the boot, veteran defender Ignace Tirkey and striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi will in all likelihood be picked. The 14 others will be those who have recently played in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament.

Meanwhile according to a report in The Hindu, Indian weightlifters won 13 more yellow metals among 19 medals on the second day of the competition in the Commonwealth Championships at Apia, Samoa, on Thursday. After the second day, India's medal tally swell to 34, including 24 gold. India had won 15 medals, including 11 gold, on the first day on Wednesday.

Kunal, Manav share lead: Manav Jaini and Kunal Bhasin were sharing the lead after Round Three of the PGTI Players Championship with identical totals of 10-under-206. Manav fired a solid one-under-71 on Thursday to stay in the hunt. Bhasin, who was overnight tied sixth, shot a five under-67.

Jeev shoots six-under, jumps to tied 13th: Jeev Milkha Singh shot a flawless six-under 66 to move into tied 13th place at the end of the second round of the Nordea Masters at Bro Hof Slott Golf club here. Jeev, who had a modest 73 in the first round, had six birdies, four on the back nine, which was his first nine, and two more in the second half.  Shiv Kapur, who had a first round 72, slipped to 77 in second round and is certain to miss the halfway cut.

Four race horses succumb to Bengal heat wave: The ongoing heat wave in Bengal, which has already claimed 45 human lives, is also taking toll on animals as four race horses have succumbed to the blistering heat in the stables over the last few days. With temperatures hovering over 40 degrees Celsius combined with oppressive humidity in the last few days a number of horses are ill and suffering from high fever. The horses are now being kept on fruit and glucose diet and are being given cold massages to keep their body temperatures down.