Indians make winning start at World TT Championships

Indian paddlers got off to a spectacular start in the World Table Tennis Championship as all six, including new women's national champion Kumaresan Shamini, spanked their respective opponents 4-0 in their opening matches of the qualifying rounds in Yokohama, Japan, on Tuesday.

Shamini drubbed New Zealander Garmet Debbie, while in the men's singles former national champion Subhajit Saha overcame El Mak Osama Ahmed of Sudan on the opening day of the eight-day tournament.

Sourav Chakraborty defeated Nepal's Rakesh Maharjan, while A Amal Raj thumped Jimenez Daniel of Costa Rica.

Pathik Mehta got the walkover from B Daniel of Malta.

In the women's singles, former national champion Poulomi Ghatak tamed Nyberg Hanna of Finland and her doubles partner Mouma Das outplayed Hoppert Andrea of Honduras.

Madhurika Patkar spanked Finland's M Vastavuo, while Kasturi Chakraborty sent S Thiphakone of Laos packing.

All the Indian paddlers will play their second and final match of the qualifying round on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles category, both the Indian pairs in contention -- Amal Raj-Madhurika Patkar and Pathik-Kasturi -- got byes in the preliminary round.

Olympian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal will start his campaign in the men's singles category on Thursday, against Wang Jianfeng of Norway in the main draw.