Doha: India took a significant step when they outplayed Turkmenistan 3-0 Thursday and joined Qatar in the lead with 5.5 points each after the second round of the team competition of the 15th Asian Games here.

India, which had beaten Mongolia 2.5-0.5 points on the first day, swept all three boards.

There are seven more rounds to be played in this mixed team event.

India have already won the women's individual gold through Grandmaster Koneru Humpy.

On Thursday, Krishnan Sasikiran, who finished way down in individual event, beat Meylis Annberdiyev, while Humpy carried her fine form to outplay Mahri Geldyyeva.

Humpy had beaten Mahri in in the individual rapid event too.

In the other match, P. Harikrishna beat Megsen Amanov.

"I am very happy with this win, because I took a serious risk. We were in equal position when I decided to create some complications that would make him think," said Harikrishna.

"This worked, for I was hard up for time and he had been playing fast. This win gives me confidence. I am sure I will do even better tomorrow."

Qatar beat Indonesia 2.5-0.5. Mohammed Al Medhiaki and his wife Zhu Chen registered fine wins, as did Mohamed Ali Sayed.

Medhiaki beat Utut Adianto on first board and Ali Sayed trounced Susanto Magaranto in another clash, while Zhu defeated Irine Kharisma Sukandar.

Uzbekistan beat Chinese 2-1. Rustam Kasimdhzanov drew with Bu Xiangzhi. and in the other men's match, Wang Yue drew with Aleksei Barsov of Uzbekistan.

Zhao Xue registered the lone win for China when he beat Olga Sabirova.