India, Singapore, Nigeria, Australia enter men's QF in C'wlth TT

Jaipur, May 30 (UNI) Defending champions India, runners up Singapore, Nigeria and Australia chalked out easy victories to qualify for the men's team event quarter-finals in the 17th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship here today.

India first trounced Scotland 3-1 and later whipped Malaysia 3-0 in Group B.

Subhajit Saha won the first singles when he defeated Mohd Shakirin Ibrahim in four sets 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-6. Sharath Kamal then routed Kian Beng Chai in straight sets 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 while Soumyadeep Roy trounced Mao Sheng Kho 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 to win the match for India against Malaysia.

Singapore blanked Northern Ireland and Canada by identical 3-0 margins in Group A.

Third seed Nigeria also recoreded easy victories in one-sided ties, thrashing Wales and New Zealand by the same 3-0 margin.

Fourth seed Australia conceded a game each to Cyprus and England before emerging 3-1 winners.

Indian women had also started their campaign on a winning note as they whipped South Africa by 3-0 in Group D.

Sri Lanka and Botswana failed to turn up leaving only 15 teams in men's and 14 teams in women's sections.

Rajasthan Sports Minister Yunus Khan inaugurated the championship in a colourful function.

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