Sangsom, which finished third at last week's Asian Women's Club Championship in Manila, were spearhead by Patcharee Saengmuang, server Amporn Hyapha and attacker Wilawan Apinyapong.

The Thai squad started strongly, with Wilawan puncturing the Indian defence with spectacular spiking. Sangsom won the opener set 25-12.

The local girls gained the upper hand at the start of the second set, but Chennai regrouped before Sangsom fought back to take the set 25-15.

Sangsom then rested their best players for the final set, while Chennai threw everything they had at the Thais.

The Indians mixed a powerful attack from Geeta Kalinidhi and Priyanka Premchand Bora with great serves from Aswani Sasi Kumar to trail Sangsom 17-16.

However, the Thai's greater experience made Chennai's mission impossible. Sangsom took the hard-fought set 25-20 and the match.

"I think the Indian team were not too strong for my girls," said Thai head coach Sutthichai Chanbanchee.

"I decided to field several reserve players in this match. An uphill task awaits my team when we have to play Japan's Hitachi next on Thursday."

The Indian team's head coach, Mahamaya Samaddar, expressed her disappointment at her team's loss.

"It's our first match here and I think my girls had too much pressure taking on the host side," she said.

"We trained for only 35 days for this tournament, while nine players in this team have already made the cut for the national team which will also represent the country in December's Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

"Frankly, I'm not happy with the way my girls played today.

"Their form was below par. Tomorrow we go up against Japan's Hitachi. I think we will face a tough task."

Elsewhere, Vietnam stunned China's Liaoning 3-0, Japan's Toray Arrows downed Taiwan's Chung Shan 3-0 and China's Sichuan powered past Japan's Hitachi.

Preechachan     Wiriyanupappong

The Nation