India win against Bangladesh, Aussies and S Africans join hosts

Kolkata, Jul 29 (UNI) India showed some true form to register a facile straight set victory over Bangladesh in the inaugural match of the nine nation 2nd Commonwealth Championship at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here today.

India won the match 25-7, 25-18 and 25-13.

However, the other two matches were played in contrasting manners. While South Africa and Canada had a slugfest that lasted almost two hours ending in a fifth set decider, Australia steamrolled Sri Lanka in just three minutes over an hour.

India started in a whirlwind manner talking the first set 25-7 with Sanjay Kumar and G Pradeep effecting some fantastic spikes and blocks.

Having secured a win in the first set, the hosts tried one two many combinations and in the process, incurred some errors in reception and service allowing Bangladesh to come back in attack with their captain A M Sheikh making some excellent smashes.

However, after two forced time-outs, India took the set 25-18.

The third set was an easy affair, with India making five changes.

Later, Indian coach Sridharan said he was testing his players having measured the opponents in the first two sets.

Sanjay Kumar with maximum points won (13) and Gurchand (9) were excellent coming in for smashes from the baseline. Pradeep, who played as a roving spike and blocker, often crept behind the Bangladesh blocks to bring about excellent smashes.

Pradeep won 12 points. The blocks were near perfect with K J Kapil Dev, Srikanth and Sube doing some excellent stuff at the nets.

Later, Bangladesh coach Golam Rasul Khan said lack of experience and the height factor worked against them. His Indian counterpart was happy with the team's performance and said the players were in good nick.

He was confident that the Indian players, who showed little chinks in reception and defence would recover before the match against the big Nigerians.

In other matches, South Africa beat Canada 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 16-25, 15-13 in a nail biting five-setter. The surprise package was South Africa's arsenal at the net and some big time smashes.

Australia, which boasts of nine world cuppers in the squad, overpowered Sri Lanka 25-14, 25-14, 25-18.

UNI