Former world champion Ratchanok Intanon got off to a losing start at the World Superseries Finals in Dubai yesterday.
The world No.7 Thai was beaten 21-13, 18-21, 21-10 by Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan in her first match in Group B of the women's singles.
It was Ratchanok's fifth loss to the Taiwanese in nine meetings.
The Thai, who is making her debut at the lucrative season-ending tournament, must beat No.17 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan today to keep alive her hope of reaching the semi-finals.
In her last match in the round-robin group stage, Ratchanok will be up against world No.3 Wang Yihan from China.
Thai pair Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sudket Prapakamol were also defeated by world No.3 Joachim Fishcher Nielsen and Christina Pedersen of Denmark 21-5, 24-22 in the mixed doubles.
The Danes extended their perfect record against the Thais to six wins.
Today, they will meet Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin of China, ranked eighth in the world.
Meanwhile, Bodin Issara said he was ready to return to action next month after his two-year suspension was reduced by the Badminton World Federation.
"I am still in good shape," said the 22-year-old who began his original suspension in July last year.
Bodin said he wanted to represent the country at next year's SEA Games in Singapore and thanked Thai badminton chief Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul for her support.