Indian paddlers start well

India had a wonderful start to the 15th Commonwealth Table Tennis championships, winning both the men's and women's ties in the team events on the opening day, in Delhi, on Saturday.

While the men had a cakewalk against Northern Ireland, winning 4-0 in a best-of-seven matches tie in the first league encounter, the women came from behind to edge past a strong Canada 4-3, in a thrilling second tie after getting a walkover against Ghana, whose team is yet to arrive, in the first.

National champion Somyadeep Roy was the only player to concede a game in the fluent victory in the men's section as he defeated Northern Ireland's number one player Jonny Cowan 21-16, 10-21, 21-14 in the first match.

Chetan Baboor and S Raman had no problems in winning their singles matches, making it 3-0 for India.

Baboor beat Daryl Strong 22-20, 21-7 while Raman dismissed Andrew Dennison 21-9, 21-12.

Baboor and Raman, defending champions in the men's doubles in the Open event, then combined to defeat the pair of Cowan and Dennison 21-13, 21-15 to clinch the tie for India, who take on Malaysia in their next tie later in the day.

Earlier, Maldives were shifted from Group D to Group A in place of Pakistan, who pulled out of the tournament.

The Group D ties were rescheduled with India, who originally were to face Maldives in their opening tie, playing Northern Ireland.