Great Britain’s women’s flag football team made a winning start to their World Games debut in China on Thursday.

GB came into the tournament ranked fifth in the world and claimed a 26-13 win over Italy in their opening group game in Chengdu.

The tournament is seen as crucial for GB’s development before flag football makes its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.

The World Games is a global multi-sport event showcasing sports not currently on the Olympic programme.

It featured flag football events for both men and women for the first time in 2022, although neither GB men or women qualified.

There is no men’s event this time round, but GB women booked their spot after securing seventh place at last year’s Flag Football World Championships.

Italy, who were eighth at the Worlds, took the lead in 34C heat in China as quarterback Maria Carolina Sgroi threw a touchdown pass to Giada Zocca.

But GB replied with Hannah Elliott running in a touchdown right after a big catch by Marta Mathews, and GB went in front just before half-time as quarterback Jessica Allen found receiver Emily Kemp.

Sgroi and Zocca connected again early in the second half to make it 13-13, before Mathews made an important interception on defence for GB.

Moments later Kemp ran in her second touchdown then GB secured victory as Allen made her second touchdown pass to Kemp, one of two US-born players in the squad along with BBC NFL analyst Phoebe Schecter.

GB’s other two group games are on Friday against Japan and Mexico, who shocked USA to win the 2022 final, before the knockout and ranking games are played on Saturday and Sunday.