QPlay: Anirban Creates History, Saina Wins Silver & 16th Man Binny

All the latest sports news in The Quint’s morning wrap.

Anirban Lahiri in action during the fourth round of the PGA Championship. (Photo: AP)

1. Lahiri Finishes Tied 5th at PGA C’ship

The only Indian in the fray at the PGA Championship, Anirban Lahiri created history by putting together the best-ever outing by an Indian at a Major after finishing tied fifth at Whistling Straits.

The 28-year-old Bangalore native played out a final round of 4-under 68 to finish seven shots behind winner Jason Day at -13 and pocket a cool $367,50070 as prize money.

Lahiri was playing his seventh Major, of which six had come in succession. Previously, he had made the cut in four and his best had been T-30 at British Open this year.

2. Heartbreak Again as Saina Settles for Silver at World Championships

Saina Nehwal’s quest to become the first Indian world champion in badminton ended in heartbreak as she lost in straight games to title holder Carolina Marin on Sunday.

The world number two Indian went down 16-21 19-21 to her Spanish opponent in a match which lasted 59 minutes. It was the second successive loss in a major final for Saina even though the silver medal she settled for is the best performance by an Indian at the event.

Today I didn’t play my best, I could’ve done better. had no problems with fitness. Final is more mental than physical. I made one silly error in the second game during a crucial moment. In the second set, I was on the slower side. I was trying to make rallies happen but the points went very quickly.
– Saina Nehwal

Click here for full match report.

3. Virat Kohli Presses Panic Button, Summons Stuart Binny as 16th Man

In a desperate bid to get their team combination right, the Indian cricket team has summoned Karnataka all-rounder Stuart Binny as the 16th member of the Test squad ahead of the second Test, starting Thursday.

The BCCI media release states, “All-rounder Stuart Binny will join the Indian Cricket Team before the second match of the three-match Test series in Sri Lanka.” But it’s apparent that the 31-year-old veteran is very much in the scheme of things as far as the playing XI for the second Test is concerned.

Full report here.

File photo of Deepika Kumari. (Photo: Reuters)

4. India Bags a Silver in Recurve Mixed Pair in Archery World Cup

Indian recurve mixed pair of Deepika Kumari and Mangal Singh Champia settled for a silver after losing to their Mexican opponents in the final in the Archery World Cup Stage 3.

The Mexican pair of London Olympics silver medallists Aida Roman and Juan Rene Serrano took a 3-1 lead after the second end before winning the gold with a an easy 5-1 win in a one-sided contest.

India thus concluded their campaign in the Stage 3 of the World Cup with one gold and one silver. Having beaten in the bronze play-off in team event, Abhishek Verma claimed the gold in the individual men’s compound event on Saturday.

5. Misfiring Chelsea Crushed By City, Arsenal Win

Chelsea‘s poor start to the Premier League season continued with a 3-0 thumping by Manchester City on Sunday to leave Jose Mourinho’s misfiring champions with one point from their opening two games.

Sergio Aguero’s superb finish gave City a deserved 31st- minute lead and Vincent Kompany’s second goal in two games sealed the points for Manuel Pellegrini’s side before Fernandinho completed the rout. (Full report here)

Arsenal, the side most fancied to battle Chelsea and City for the title, earlier kick-started their season with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace – the points decided by Palace defender Damien Delaney’s own goal.

Olivier Giroud had given the Gunners, beaten at home by West Ham United on the opening weekend, the lead, only for Joel Ward to equalise against the run of play.

6. Day Wins PGA Championship in Record Style

Australia’s Jason Day held his nerve to end five years of close calls at the majors with an emotional breakthrough victory by three shots over American Jordan Spieth at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

World number five Day, two ahead of Spieth overnight, never relinquished his lead as he closed with a five-under-par 67 at Whistling Straits to post a major record low of 20-under 268.