SPORTS SPECIAL – BY SHAILESH PADHYE

India lost 1-0 to Belgium in their first hockey match of European tour.

Top seed Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer advanced to third round of Montreal Masters with easy wins.Nadal beat Borna Coric 6-1,6-2 while Federer thrashed Polansky 6-2,6-1.There were upsets too as Gael Monfils beat fifth seed Kei Nishikori after saving a match point winning 6-7,7-5,7-6. Diego Shwartzman shocked third seed Dominic Thiem.

World number one Andy Murray pulled out of Cincinnati Masters next week with injury and is a major doubt for US Open,final Grand Slam of the year which begins in New York at the end of this month.

World record holder Indian Neeraj Chopra begins his quest for a medal in javelin throw at World Championships on Thursday.

Kynan Chenai and Shreyashi  Singh won bronze at mixed trap event at Asian Shotgun Championships in Kazakhstan.They beat Lebanon 40-38 in bronze medal playoff to give India its  fourth medal in Championships.

P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal were handed easy draws at World Championships which begins in Glasgow from August 21st.Two time bronze medallist Sindhu will meet Sun Yu of China while Saina will meet Sung Ji Hyun for a place in quarterfinals.K Srikanth also has a good draw.For the first time India will have 4 players in both mens and womens singles.