Sudirman Cup: India beat Thailand despite Saina loss

Indian star Saina Nehwal was surprisingly beaten 21-14, 22-20 by teen sensation Ratchanok Inthanon, but Nehwal's team recovered to beat Thailandu00a0u00a0 at the Sudirman Cup yesterday.

The 21-year-old Nehwal was quicker out of the blocks in the second game, but she squandered an early lead and allowed the world-ranked 18 Ratchanok back in, the rising Thai star taking the game ufffd and with it the tie ufffd 22-20.

Nehwal, the World No 4, said she was still recovering from a tight singles match a day earlier.

"Yesterday's game was quite tough and that made me really slow today," said Nehwal, 21, who struggled to see off Taiwan's Tai Tzu-ying on Sunday, eventually coming through an unconvincing 21-10, 12-21, 21-17.