The Indian team got their campaign at the Asian Table Tennis Championships off to a flying start in Lucknow on Monday. The hosts reached the knockout stages of the first division after triumphing in their round-robin league matches in both the men’s and the women’s sections, with the women defeating Nepal, Laos and Kazakhstan to dominate Group D.

Reigning national champion Kumaresan Shamini led from the front, registering a comprehensive victory over Sengdavan Douangpanya as the hosts defeated Laos 3-0. The Chennai girl then led from the front, helping the hosts beat Nepal and Kazakhstan — both with a 3-0 scoreline.

The Indian men defeated Jordan and Uzbekistan in Group B and got a walkover from Turkmenistan, who did not turn up for the event.

Results: Men: Group A: Pakistan bt Indonesia w/o; Macao bt Indonesia w/o; Macao bt Pakistan 3-0; Group B: India bt Turkmenistan w/o; Uzbekistan bt Jordan 3-1; India beat Uzbekistan 3-0; Jordan bt Turkmenistan 3-0; India beat Jordan 3-0; Group C: DPR Korea bt Nepal 3-1; Malaysia bt Sri Lanka 3-1; Iran bt Bangladesh 3-0; Thailand bt Laos 3-0; DPR Korea bt Malaysia 3-1; Sri Lanka bt Nepal 3-1; Group D: Iran bt Bangladesh 3-0; Thailand bt Laos 3-0; Iran bt Thailand 3-0; Bangladesh bt Laos 3-2.

Women: Group A: DPR Korea bt Pakistan 3-0; DPR Korea bt Macao 3-0; Macao bt Pakistan 3-0; Group B: Thailand bt Jordan 3-0; Thailand bt Uzbekistan 3-0; Uzbekistan bt Jordan 3-0; Group C: Malaysia bt Sri Lanka 3-0; Sri Lanka bt Bangladesh 3-0; Malaysia bt Bangladesh 3-0; Group D: India beat Laos 3-0; Kazakhstan bt Nepal 3-1; India beat Nepal 3-0; Kazakhstan bt Laos 3-0. India beat Kazakhstan 3-0