Indian ace shuttler Ajay Jayaram’s gallant fight ended in a defeat in the opening match as Indian men’s team suffered a 1-3 loss against Thailand in their campaign-opener at the Thomas Cup tournament here on Sunday.
World No. 21 Jayaram took the court to start the proceedings against Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk but he suffered a mid-match collapse to lose 16-21, 21-12, 14-21.
Olympic-bound men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy B also suffered a 17-21, 6-21 loss against Thailand’s Bodin Issara and Nipitphon Puangpuapech.
In the second doubles, Akshay Dewalkar and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy again lost 15-21 21-14 15-21 to Thailand pair of Puavaranukroh Dechapol and Kedren Kittinupong in a 56-minute to take an unassailable 3-1 lead, rendering the fifth tie between Sourabh Varma and Adulrach Namkul inconsequential.