Colombo, Oct 9 (IANS): India started its medal hunt in the inaugural South Asian Beach Games in Hambantota, claiming both the gold and silver medals in equestrian-tentpegging event.

Nepal won the bronze medal, reported Xinhua.

Indian participants Jaswinder Singh Batt and Jaswinder Singh tied with each scoring 29 points and Nepalese Dhurba Pradas 28.

In the competition for gold between the two Indians, Batt scored 6 while Singh scored 2.

Sri Lankan men marked their first victory in the first game of beach volleyball, defeating India 2-0 on the opening day.

Sri Lanka alsohad strong victories in beach football, beating Nepal 11-2 and Bangladesh 12-4. Bangladesh defeated Maldives 8-3 and Nepal defeated Maldives 5-3.

Sri Lanka also scored resounding victories over Nepal in kabbadi. The men won 71-19 and the women 70-34.

However all women's kabaddi teams are sure to receive a medal as only four teams - Bangaladesh, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka - feature in the events and the bottom two teams will receive bronze medals.

Recovering from a 30-years civil war that ended in May 2009, Sri Lanka, by hosting the first beach games Oct 8-14, is aiming to improve its bid against Australia's Gold Coast for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.