In the women's first round, local best bet Kamolthip Kulna and Yupa Phukrongploy, fresh from winning the Asian Invitation in Phatthalung last week, outclassed Sri Lankan Kkgl Gunawardana and Wkmk Wannirachchi 21-14 21-8 before defeating Singaporeans Angelina Bridget Scanlon and Wu Shuqin 21-13 21-19 in the round-robin contest to ease into the second round as the top of Group A.

In the men's first round, Thai veteran Thaweep Thongkamnerd and Sitthichai Sangkhachot were in great form to beat Indians P. Mohan and John Pradeep 21-17 19-21 15-9 before producing a thrilling 21-15 15-21 15-10 win over AussiesJens Michel and Damien Schumann to secure a second-round bearth.

Their countrymen Apichat Bua-luang switched to partner former national player Sathaporn Sawangruang to thrash Indians Md. Jameeluddin and Sashidhar 21-17 21-17, but could not hold their nerves as they went down 18-21 21-16 15-9 to Chinese Gao Fangtian and Han Shengwei in another match. Despite the loss, they advanced as the second in Group C.

Compatriots Baworn Yangthin and Montree Cha-emnoy tamed Malaysian Khoo Chong-long and Modh Rafiq Arumi 21-12 21-10 and later revenged their loss in the last week's Phatthalung event to Suratna and Agung Santoso, beating the Indonesians 21-14 21-18 to sail into the second round as the top of Group F.

All participating teams were split into eight groups of three teams. The top four both in the men's and women's divisions in the recent Phatthalung-Loma Asian Beach Volleyball Invitation were automatically placed in Pool A, B, C and D.

The players competed in the round-robin opening round and only the top two teams in each group advance to the second round of the single elimination.

Somporn Suphop

The Nation

Songkhla