Indian paddlers made a positive start to their campaign in the World Team Table Tennis Championship in Doha, Qatar, defeating Slovenia in the league phase in both the men's and women's section on Monday night.

India, playing in the second division in both categories, recorded contrasting victories with the men winning 3-2, while the women registered an easy 3-1 win.

As per the new format of the tournament, the top 12 teams would play in the Championship division for the title while the other teams would be divided in four divisions according to their world rankings.

The first three divisions comprise of 12 teams each divided in two groups while all the remaining teams are in fourth division.

If the same format continues for the next edition of the Championship, the top team from each division would automatically qualify for the next division.

Results:

Men: India beat Slovenia 3-2 (Soumyadeep Roy lost to B Tokic 8-11 4-11 11-8 11-9 8-11; Chetan Baboor beat M Horvat 10-12 11-1 7-11 11-2 11-9; Achanta Sharath Kamal beat S Ignjatovic 4-11 12-10 11-9 6-11 11-8; Baboor lost to Tokic 10-12 4-11 5-11; Roy beat Horvat 10-12 11-3 11-7 13-11).

Women: India beat Slovenia 3-1 (Poulami Ghatak beat B Todorovic 11-7 11-2 11-6; Mouma Das beat M Safran 11-2 11-5 12-10; Montu Ghosh lost to S Burgar 5-11 11-8 12-10 5-11 8-11; Ghatak beat Safran 11-8 11-7 9-11 10-12 11-8).