India’s Yashaswini Ghorpade overcame a spirited challenge from Singapore teenager Chong Sian Zi to enter the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Friday.

Fresh from playing a key role in India’s team gold medal triumph, the third seed prevailed 4-1, but the scoreline scarcely reflected the quality of resistance offered by the 15-year-old Singaporean.

Chong countered Yashaswini’s long-pimpled backhand with impressive composure, refusing to be drawn into errors and matching the Indian in extended rallies. The only one-sided game came in the third, when Yashaswini unleashed a series of forehand winners that left the teenager with few answers. Undeterred, Chong continued to trouble the Indian with her fearless shot-making before eventually bowing out.

With the host nation allowed to field 16 paddlers each in the men’s and women’s singles, the Indians dominated the day’s action and secured a majority of berths in the pre-quarterfinals.

Sayali Wani kept India’s campaign on track with a hard-fought victory over Malaysia’s Ying Ho, while Yashini Sivashankar exited after an encouraging display against Australia’s Constantina Psihogios. The young Indian repeatedly tested the Australian before going down in a closely fought contest.

Top seed Yangzi Liu of Australia, the highest-ranked player in the tournament, avenged her defeat in the team championships by brushing aside Malaysia’s Karen Lyne in straight games to progress comfortably.

In the men’s singles, Payas Jain, a member of India’s gold medal-winning team, proved too strong for Malaysia’s Choong Javen to move into the last 16. Defensive specialist H. Jeho ended compatriot Mudit Dani’s campaign with a clinical victory in an all-Indian encounter, while Ronit Bhanja produced an entertaining 4-1 win over Singapore’s Ellsworth Le to complete another successful day for the home contingent.

Important Results: Singles (round of 32): Men: Jash Modi bt Thisas Methkalana (SL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5; Akash Pal bt August Xiao (NZ) 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6; Payas Jain bt Javen Choong (Mas) 11-7, 13-11, 11-6, 11-5; Sanil Shetty bt Eli Ho (NZ) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8; Harmeet Desai bt Xuqi Lin (Aus) 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4; H. Jeho bt Mudit Dani 11-8, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8; Ronit Bhanja bt Ellsworth Le (Sgp) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 15-13; Manav Thakkar bt Akhyar Ahmed Khalid (Mdv) 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.

Women: Yanzgi Liu (Aus) bt Karen Lyne Anak Dick (Mas) 11-4, 11-4, 11-7, 11-2; Swastika Ghosh bt Olivia Huang (CAN) 11-7, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6; Anusha Kutumbale bt Jocelyn Lam (NZ) 10-12, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5; Tin-Tin Ho (Eng) bt Kavya Bhatt 6-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2; Taneesha Kotecha bt Anzhou Han (NZ) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7; Ai Xin Tee (Mas) bt Suhana Saini 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6; Nithyashree Mani bt Fiona Iayi Nie (Can) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5, 13-11; Sayali Wani bt Ying Ho (Mas) 12-10, 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9; Constantina Psihogios (Aus) Yashini Sivasankar 5-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 19-17; Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Sian Zi Chong (Sgp) 11-8, 11-7, 11-2, 11-13, 12-10.