India got off to a spectacular start, routing a lowly Bermuda 3-0 in a Pool G match, while favourites Egypt won with equal measure, blanking Finland 3-0, in the 21st ICL World men's Team Squash Championship at the ICL Academy in Chennai on Thursday.
Gaurav Nandrajog gave the home team a perfect start, notwithstanding a close second game, national champion Saurav Ghosal consolidated it and Siddarth Suchde delivered the knock-out punch to end the day on a satisfying note.
Gaurav won the first singles against Robert Maycock 11-3, 11-10 (4-2), 11-8 in 25 minutes, before Saurav, displaying his wide repertoire of strokes, took just 24 minutes to wallop Chase Too Good 11-3, 11-5, 11-4.
Siddarth Suchde was even more emphatic as he conceded a mere eight points in a 11-1, 11-2, 11-5 mauling of Mel Carnes to complete the rout.
Suchde just took 13 minutes to finish off the match.
India, seeded 11th, will meet arch-rivals and seventh seeds Pakistan on Friday. A victory will ensure them a berth in the last 16 stage.
Egypt, led by world No 1 Amr Shabana, who won the title in the World Professional Championship at Bermuda before coming to Chennai, were also off to a fine start.
Mohammmed Abbas outplayed Finland's Henrik Mustonen, winning 11-5, 7-11, 3-11, 3-11 in 34 minutes, Amr beat Olli Tuominen 11-10(3-1), 11-10(5-3), 11-5, 11-9 and Karim Darwish, a doubtful starter on the eve of the championship, outplayed Matias Tuomi 11-7, 11-5, 11-3.
Results:
India bt Bermuda 3-0 [Gaurav Nandrajog bt Robert Maycock 11-3, 11-10 (4-2), 11-8; Saurav Ghosal bt Chase Too Good 11-3, 11-5, 11-4; Siddarth Suchde bt Mel Carnes 11-1, 11-2, 11-5].
Russia lost to Germany 0-3 [Valery Litvinko {Russia} lost to Moritz Dahmen {Germany} 4-11, 3-11, 1-11 Alexi Severinov {Russia} lost to Simon Rosner {Germany} 2-11, 7-11, 9-11; Sergey Kostrykin {Russia} lost to Johannes Voit {Germany} 1-11, 1-11, 2-11].
Finland lost to Egypt 0-3 [Henrik Mustonen {Finland} lost to {4} Mohamed Abbas {Egypt} 11-5, 7-11, 3-11, 3-11 {34m}; Olli Tuominen {Finland} lost to {1} Amr Shabana {Egypt} 10-11 {1-3}, 10-11 {3-5}, 11-5, 9-11; Matias Tuomi {Finland} lost to {2} Karim Darwish {Egypt} 7-11, 5-11, 3-11].
Spain lost to Hing Kong 1-2 [Arturo Santo Tomas {Spain} lost to {3} Max Lee {Hong Kong} 11-10 {2-0}, 2-11, 9-11, 5-11; David Vidal Villamide {Spain} lost to {1} Dick Lau {Hong Kong} 10-11 {1-3}, 6-11, 11-9, 11-10 {4-2} 3-11; Alejandro Garbi Caro {Spain} beat {2} Wong Wai Hang {Hong Kong} 11-10 {6-4}, 11-8, 7-11, 11-10 {2-0}].
Malaysia beat Kuwait 3-0 [Mohd. Nafiizwan {Malaysia} beat {3} Mohammed Y. Hajeyah {Kuwait} 11-3, 11-7, 10-11 {0-2}, 11-4; Mohd. Azlan Bin Iskandar {Malaysia} beat {1} Bader I. Al-Hussaini {Kuwait} 11-6, 11-7, 11-9; Ong Beng Hee {Malaysia} beat {2} Abdullah Kh. Al-Mezayen {Kuwait} 11-1, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8].
Austria lost to Ireland 0-3 [Andreas Freudensprung {Austria} lost to {3} Derek Ryan {Ireland} 11-10 {7-5}, 4-11, 8-11, 4-11; Aqeel Rehman {Austria} lost to Liam Kenny {Ireland} 2-11, 9-11, 6-11; Jakob Dirnberger {Austria} lost to John Rooney {Ireland} 4-11, 7-11, 3-11].
Sweden lost to Wales 0-3 [Gustav Detter {Sweden} lost to Jethro Binns {Wales} 10-11 {1-3}, 5-11, 11-9, 1-11; Christian Drakenberg {Sweden} lost to {1} Alex Gough {Wales} 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 4-11; Rasmus Hult {Sweden} lost to {2} David Evans {Wales} 9-11, 10-11 {3-5}, 4-11].
