Thai shuttlers are in confident mood despite missing their best player ahead of the 2021 Sudirman Cup mixed team world championship in Vantaa, Finland.
The 17-player squad, led by Kanthaphon Wangcharoen, Busanan Ongbamrungphan, Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, travelled to Finland on Wednesday to take part in the Sept 26-Oct 3 biennial tournament.
The squad will compete in the championship without world No.6 Ratchanok Intanon.
The 26-year-old former world champion is taking some time off after her mother's passing recently.
Thailand are in Group A along with defending champions China, India and hosts Finland. They will begin their campaign against India on Sunday.
"The opening tie against India will likely decide which team will go through to the knockout round," said Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand.
"Both Thailand and India should beat Finland while China are the favourites to top the group."
Patama added: "This team have a nice mix of experienced and young players. The likes of Busanan, Pornpawee [Chochuwong], Dechapol and Sapsiree have tons of experiences while we also have new faces likes Kunlavut [Vitidsarn] and Benyapa [Aimsaard].
"It will be close but I believe Thailand should be able to get past India and qualify as the second-placed team of the group. And then we will have to wait and see which team we will meet in the knockout phase."
Group B features Taiwan, South Korea, Tahiti and Germany; Group C includes Indonesia, Denmark, Russian Olympic Committee and Canada; and Group D has 2019 finalists Japan, Malaysia, England and Egypt.
The winners and runners-up from each group will progress to the knockout stage.
Thailand reached the semi-finals in 2019 but lost 3-0 to China who went on to claim their 11th title in Nanning, China. Thailand's best results in the championship are in 2013, 2017 and 2019 when they won bronze medals.