Action during the India-Bangladesh match at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: Hosts India kicked off their campaign in the second Commonwealth Volleyball Championship fending off a rather feeble challenge from Bangladesh in straight sets at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Indian spikers never had to push things as they took only 56 minutes to wipe out Bangladesh’s challenge 25-7, 25-18, 25-13 in front of a few hundred spectators.

The group A encounter saw the hosts dominate their opponents from the outset. India took the first set in only 15 minutes.

The Bangladesh players tried to put up some resistance in the second set drawing level at 8-8 and 9-9, before the Indians returned with a bang collecting five straight points to open up a 14-9 lead. Maintaining the tempo, the home side closed the second set in 21 minutes.

Dropping the first two sets, Bangladesh began the third by bagging the first point, but the Indians quickly regained the initiative to leave the visitors way behind and pocket the set and the tie. The third set lasted another 20 minutes.

India face last edition’s silver medallist Nigeria, while Bangladesh take on Australia in Monday’s group A matches.

In the day’s second match, South Africa stunned Canada, who are ranked 12th in the world. South Africa won 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 16-25, 15-13.

The last match was also a one-sided affair with Australia, considered the best team in the meet, blanking Sri Lanka 25-14, 25-14, 25-18.