England’s men had to dig deep to avoid defeat to New Zealand on day one of the Commonwealth Championships in Delhi, while England women won two of their three matches.

The men’s match was their second in Group C and two wins for Connor Green and one for Joe Hunter (pictured above) ultimately saw England recover from 1-0 and 2-1 down.

Hunter lost out 3-2 (12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7) to August Xiao in the first match, but Green’s win in three against Jun Hyuk Choi levelled the match.

Shayan Siraj was then edged out 3-2 (9-11, 11-13, 11-8, 14-12, 11-7) by Eli Ho as the New Zealanders took the lead, but again Green pulled it level by beating Xiao in four.

Hunter completed the win with a 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 15-13) victory over Choi.

Earlier, England had started with a routine 3-0 win over Cyprus, with 3-0 victories for Green and Hunter and a 3-1 margin for Ben Piggott, who sealed the match win. Also in Group C are Zambia and Falkland Islands.

England’s women started with a 3-0 win over Cyprus in Group C, sealed by Mari Baldwin coming from 2-1 down against Konstantina Meletie to claim a 3-2 victory.

The match against Australia was always going to be tough, but Tin-Tin Ho gave England the perfect start with a 3-2 (11-5, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-5) triumph against Constantina Psihogios (WR 112).

World No 31 Yangzi Liu levelled it up by defeating Jasmin Wong and, after Minhyung Jee (WR 59) had beaten Anna Green, Liu sealed a 3-1 win for the Aussies by defeating Ho in four.

England bounced back with a thumping 3-0 win over Bangladesh to seal second placed in the group. They will face Malaysia, Singapore and Maldives in the second phase.

Results

Men’s Team
Group C
England 3 Cyprus 0
Connor Green bt Sharpel Elia 3-0 (11-1, 11-7, 11-5)
Joe Hunter bt Christos Theofanou 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-5)
Ben Piggott bt Alexandros Michael 3-1 (10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6)

England 3 New Zealand 2
August Xiao bt Hunter 3-2 (12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7)
Green bt Jun Hyuk Choi 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-9)
Eli Ho bt Shayan Siraj 3-2 (9-11, 11-13, 11-8, 14-12, 11-7)
Green bt Xiao 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9)
Hunter bt Choi 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 15-13)

Women’s Team
Group C
England 3 Cyprus 0
Jasmin Wong bt Foteini Meletie 3-1 (11-4, 11-8, 3-11, 11-5)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Georgia Avraam 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-2)
Mari Baldwin bt Konstantina Meletie 3-2 (11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5)

England 1 Australia 3
Ho bt Constantina Psihogios 3-2 (11-5, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-5)
Yangzi Liu bt Wong 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-5)
Minhyung Jee bt Anna Green 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-6)
Liu bt Ho 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8)

England 3 Bangladesh 0
Wong bt Mst Asma Khatun 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-7)
Ho bt Mst Rafia Chowdhury 3-0 (11-2, 11-2, 11-1)
Green bt Laxmi Datta 3-0 (11-1, 11-3, 11-3)