Chawla followed that up with a sizzling 67 clearance to take a vice-like grip over the proceedings.

An error while going for a long red pot gave his rival an opening.

Lam made a crucial break of 40 to pull one back. But before much damage could be done, Chawla closed out the match in the next frame to begin his campaign in the continental showpiece in splendid fashion.

Later, national champion Paras Gupta prevailed over (4-3) Mohamed Mubeen of Sri Lanka on the final black ball in a Group ‘D’ match.

Results: Group A: Pushpender Singh (Ind) beat Ziaur Rahman Azad (Ban) 4-1 (49-23, 40-16, 1-40, 47-33, 56 (36) -0); Chi Kin Chan (Macao, Chn) beat Pushpender 4-3 (1-7, 0-5, 6-0, 49 (40) -19, 14-61 (39), 42-31, 48-6).

Group C: Kamal Chawla (Ind) beat Wai Ip Lam (Macao, Chn) 4-1 (42-5, 80 (66) -0, 67 (67) -0, 0-44 (40), 49-7).

Group D: Paras Gupta (Ind) beat Mohamed Mubeen (SL) 4-3 (20-52, 42 (37) -5, 47-17, 46-34, 25-36, 13-36, 28-25). PTI UNG AH AH