Turin, May 22 (UNI) Viswanathan Anand's absence and the surprising decision of not fielding K Sasikiran proved fatal as Indian men's team, seeded second in the event, was handed a stunning 1-3 defeat by minnows Morocco in the 37th Chess Olympiad here.

Their female counteraparts, however, started emphatically with a 3-0 thrashing of Brazil.

Among the men, national champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly and P Harikrishna were held to draw, while fellow Grandmaster Sandipan Chanda and IM norm holder Diwakar Prasad Singh bit dust against their opponents from Morocco.

India surprisingly did not field GM Sasikiran, who could have been the best choice since Anand is expected toplay only from the third round onwards.

Anand was playing in the Mtel Masters in Sofia, Bulgaria where he finished third.

The eves, seeded ninth, however, did not let down anmd randmaster Koneru Humpy stamped her class with a facile win against Women International Master Lucia Santos Ribeiro Regina.

Women Grandmaster Dronavalli Harika then got the better of Delai Paula Fernanda's defence and Swati Ghate capped the fine run beating Joara Chaves.

Indian eves meet Vietnam in their next outing.

UNI XC AY DH BST1906