Hosts India and Chinese Taipei blanked China and Philippines 3-0 respectively in the opening group ties of the Asian Hopman Cup mixed team event on Thursday.

India got off to a solid start in Group A after the nation's top woman player Sania Mirza beat Shuai Zhang 6-2 6-2 and Rohan Bopanna breezed past Mao-Xin Gong 6-3 6-2. The duo then dominated the mixed doubles final 6-2 6-4.

In Group B, Taiwan's Shuan Hwang defeated Czarina Arevalo 6-0 6-2 in the women's singles before her team mate Ti Chen overcame his Filipino rival Patrick Tierro 6-2 4-6 6-4. The pair then won the mixed doubles 7-5 6-4.

The winners of the six-nation event will earn a wildcard for the Hopman Cup to be held in Perth, Australia from December 30.

Japan face China and Thailand square off against the Philippines on Friday.

(China Daily via Reuters November 24, 2006)