Saina enters semis, Jayaram bows out

Sarawak

Former world No. 1 Saina Nehwal stayed on course for the women's singles title at the season-opening Malaysia Masters after she advanced to the semifinals here today. London Olympics bronze medallist Saina dished out a dominating show to edge past eighth seed Indonesian Fitriani 21-15 21-14 in a 40-minute contest. This was the Indian's third win over the world No. 40. In the men's singles, world No. 19 Ajay Jayaram found the going tough against Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who beat the sixth seeded Indian 21-13 21-8 in just 28 minutes. 

Cuttack
England opener Hales to return home with hand injury

England opener Alex Hales will be missing the remainder of the India tour as he is returning home following an injury in his right hand during the second ODI. Hales fractured his right hand while attempting a catch. “Opening batsman Alex Hales will miss the remainder of England's tour of India after scans revealed that he fractured his right hand during the second ODI against India on Thursday in Cuttack,” an ECB press release said. 

Kolkata
Dhawan battles sore left-thumb injury

Out-of-form India opener Shikhar Dhawan is battling a left thumb injury which he picked up during New Zealand's tour of India last October at the Eden Gardens here. According to sources, the Delhi southpaw will be ready before the third ODI match against England at the same venue on Sunday. On Friday, Dhawan checked into a private hospital after landing in the city for the final ODI.  

Barcelona
Barca beat Sociedad away, Atletico cruise in Cup

King's Cup holders Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in their quarterfinal first leg to end a nine-and-a-half year barren spell at home of the Basque side while Atletico Madrid crushed Eibar on Thursday. Brazil forward Neymar won and scored a penalty in the 21st minute after being tripped by Aritz Elustondo to decide the game.  

Moscow 
India football colts lose to Tajikistan 0-1, finish last 

The U-17 Indian football team lost 0-1 to ten-man Tajikistan in the 15-16th position play-off match in the Granatkin Memorial Cup in Moscow on Friday. The Granatkin Memorial Cup featured 16 teams from across the world. India finished last with only one win from five outings, according to an All India Football Federation (AIFF) press release. — Agencies

La Quinta (US)
Lahiri opens with a steady three-under 68 on PGA Tour

Anirban Lahiri made a steady start with a three-under 68 to be tied-34th at the end of the first round at the CareerBuilder Challenge in his second start of the new year on the PGA Tour. Starting on the tenth, he had a birdie on the 14th and his next birdie came on the par-5 fourth hole, which was his 13th hole. He dropped a shot on the sixth but picked birdies on the seventh and another on the closing ninth. Rookie Dominic Bozzelli shot a 64 to top the leaderboard.

Sentosa (Singapore)
Bhullar sixth, Kapur likely to make the cut 

Gaganjeet Bhullar was the best-placed Indian at tied-6th in the SMBC Singapore Open with rounds of 68 and 69, while Shubhankar Sharma and Shiv Kapur looked to be the other Indians likely to make the cut at the $1 million event jointly sanctioned by Asian and Japan Tours. Bhullar added a two-under 69 to get into the top-10 as the best Indian at the halfway stage. Unheralded Seungsu Han of the US carded a second round four-under 67 to grab the lead. Missing the cut were Jyoti Randhawa (73-72), S Chikkarangappa (73-72), Rahil Gangjee (72-74), Chiragh Kumar (73-76) and Jeev Milkha Singh (75-75). Daniel Chopra (70-74) also missed the weekend.

New Delhi
Mandeep in Youth National Championship semifinals

Punjab’s Mandeep Kaur made it to the semifinals of the Youth Women’s National Championships with a dominating win over Akhila Shine of Kerala in the featherweight division. The 16-year old from Chakkar village was adjudged victorious after the referee stopped the contest in the first round. In the light flyweight category, Haryana’s Jyothi registered a win over  Mizoram’s Zothanpuli after the referee stopped the contest in the first round. Punjab’s Babita Rani beat Pragati of UP 4-1 to reach the final four. In the flyweight category, Haryana’s Ekta and HP’s Maya Kumari registered wins.  — PTI