entry for Rio in the 74 kg class after he secured it in Las Vegas in 2015, was thrown out of the Games a day before his opening bout by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Northern Ireland looks bound for the playoffs among the eight best group runners-up after winning 3-0 in San Marino. It summed up India’s woeful preparation, resulting in none of the 24 wrestlers crossing the quarterfinal stage of the world championships, which concluded in Paris last week. Serena Williams has not competed since winning the Australian Open in January. Is that going to make the selectors’ job more difficult. Meanwhile, USA’s Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens also made it into the next round. However, the 13th-seeded Czech was in complete control from the start, never surrendering a break point the entire match. In the other game Friday, Romania beat visiting Armenia 1-0. But we need to give our wrestlers more experience and better coaching. Kenin’s tank was empty in the second set and Sharapova, who next faces Latvian 16th seed Anast.