India's highest-ranked female badminton player Saina Nehwal failed to make a victorious comeback in the ongoing 2016 BWF Thaihot China Open after losing to the unseeded Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand in the opening round of the $700,000 World Superseries Premier event on Wednesday.

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According to the official website of the BWF, the 26-year-old Nehwal, who entered the tournament as the fourth-seeded player of the event, was outplayed by the current world no. 13 Thai shuttler in three hard-fought sets 21-16, 19-21, and 21-14. The first round match lasted for 58 minutes and marked Porntip's first win over the Indian badminton star in their nine official meetings.

With the win, Porntip will now be facing the newly crowned French Open champion He Bingjiao of China in next round of the tournament. He prevailed over her compatriot Zhang Yiman in three sets 20-22, 21-17, and 21-19.

Nehwal suffered a severe knee injury while she was competing in the last Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The 2014 China Open winner underwent a surgery on her right knee to remove a broken spur, which was pinching the adjoining tendon.

The 2012 London Games bronze medalist had to miss several tournaments and has been sidelined with the injury. The Fuzhou badminton event was Nehwal's first tournament since the unwelcomed injury occurred three months ago.

According to Hindustan Times, just days prior to the China Open, the current world no. 6 women's singles player admitted that her professional badminton career might come to an abrupt end.

"Many people will think my career will end and I won't come back. I also think somewhere deep in my heart that maybe it is the end of my career, so let's see how it is," the Indian badminton ace said.

"It is just about how to take care of my body and be in good shape because these injuries are quite painful," Nehwal continued.

Tagsbwf rankings, thaihot china open, Rio Olympics 2016, saina nehwal, he bingjiao