Depleted Indian squash team blanked by Asian rivals Hong Kong in opener

Niagara Falls: India, minus their top squash player Dipika Pallikal, were outplayed by Hong Kong 0-3 in their opening match of the WSF Women's World Team Championship here.

Anaka Alankamony played the first singles against 23rd-ranked Joey Chan. The India took Chan by surprise in the first game before her fancied opponent came back strongly to win 4-11 11-1 11-4 11-9 yesterday.

Indian hopes were dashed when senior most player and world no.22, Joshana Chinappa, lost to ninth ranked Annie Au 3-11 8-11 8-11 in 24 minutes.

Liu Tsz-Ling then beat Harshit Kaur Jawanda 11-2 12-10 11-5 in what turned out to be a one-sided Pool D tie. India had defeated Hong Kong on their way to a historic silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games. India next play fifth seeds France later today.

In other matches, Wales denied former champions England maximum points on day one when Tesni Evans sensationally beat world No.2 Laura Massaro in four games in the opening tie in Pool B of the biennial event.

20 nations are represented in the event's 19th edition taking place at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.