1. Sania, Rohan Win Opener, Enter Quarters
The only Indian tennis players still left in contention in Rio, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna opened their mixed doubles campaign with a straight sets victory to enter the quarterfinals of the event.
The Aussie pair of Samantha Stosur and John Peers were beaten 7-5 6-4 in 73 minutes.
2. Netherlands Edge Past India in Men’s Hockey
India wasted as many as five penalty corners seconds from the final hooter to go down 1-2 against Netherlands but still sealed a quarterfinal spot at the Rio Olympics.
Netherlands scored both their goals from penalty corners through Rogier Hoffman (32nd minute) and Mink van der Weerden (54th), while India’s lone goal came from the stick of VR Raghunath (38th).
Despite the loss, India booked a quarterfinal berth after reigning Olympic champions Germany drew 4-4 with Argentina in another Pool B match.
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3. Women’s Hockey Team Lose Again, This Time to USA
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The Indian women’s hockey team yet again produced a lacklustre performance as it was outplayed by United States of America 0-3 to slump to its third successive loss in the Rio Olympics.
Still seeking their first win after returning to women’s Olympic hockey since their 1980 appearance, India is still one of the bottom two teams (the other being Japan) with just one point from four matches in the six-team Pool B standings as their chance of making it to the quarterfinals worsened.
India will have to beat higher-ranked Argentina in their final pool fixture on August 13 for any chance of qualifying to the quarterfinals.
4. Medal Hope Shiva Thapa Eliminated in Round 1
Indian boxer Shiva Thapa was beaten by Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez 0-3 in his men’s Bantam weight (56kg) category at the Rio Olympics on Thursday.
Shiva was on the backfoot from the very beginning of the contest in Pavilion 6 at the Riocentro and was well beaten on points, losing all the three rounds.
5. Saina Starts With a Win
London Games bronze winner Saina Nehwal staved off a spirited challenge from Brazil’s World No. 73 Vicente Lohaynny 21-17 21-17 in a women’s singles match which lasted 39 minutes.
The World Championship silver medallist Indian will next take on World No. 61 Maria Ulitina of Ukraine in a Group G match on August 14.
6. PV Sindhu Starts With an Easy Win
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Indian shuttler PV sindhu started her campaign at Rio with an easy win over Hungary’s Laura Sarosi. Sindhu wrapped up the match in 27 minutes in two straight sets — 21-8, 21-9.
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7. Kidambi Srikanth Wins Opener
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The only Indian male in the singles draw, Kidambri Srikanth edged past Lino Muzon of Mexico in straight games 21-11, 21-17 to win his Group H opener.
The Former world No. 3 won the match in 41 minutes.
8. Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta’s Disappointing Start
The Indian combination of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa was off to a disappointing start in the Olympic women’s doubles badminton event, losing in straight games to World No 1 Japanese pair in the opening Group A clash.
Jwala and Ashwini lost 15-21 10-21 to Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsumoto in a match which lasted just 36 minutes. The Indians will next be up against the world No.11 Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek in their second group clash on Friday.
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9. Attri-Reddy Lose in the Men’s Doubles Opener
Manu and Atti and B Sumeeth Reddy made a disappointing start to their campaign in men’s doubles badminton event. The Indian pair lost to Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in straight sets 21-18, 21-13.
10. Deepika Kumari Crashes Out After a Dismal Show
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Deepika Kumari bowed out of Rio Olympics, losing to Taiwan’s Ting Tan Ya in the 1/8 Eliminations round of the Women’s Individual category on Thursday.
Deepika lost to the Taiwanese 27-28, 26-29, 27-30 at the Sambodromo arena.
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11. Bombayla Devi Crashes Out in Round of 16
Bombayla Devi also crashed out of the Rio Olympics, going down to Mexico’s Alejandra Valencia in the 1/8 Eliminations round of the Women’s Individual category on Thursday.
Bombayla lost to the 26-28, 26-23, 27-28, 23-25, ending the Indian challenge in women’s archery.
Read more here.
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12. Weak Start by Golfers
India’s Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia had a topsy-turvy start to their campaign in Rio as they carded a three-over 74 and even-par 71 respectively in the opening round.
Asian Tour No. 1 Lahiri and India Open champion Chawrasia were tied 49th and tied 27th respectively on day one as golf returned to the Olympics after 112 years.
At the top, Australia’s Marcus Fraser fired a sizzling eight-under 63 to lead the clubhouse, followed by Canada’s Graham Delaet (66) and Thomas Pieters (67).
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