Thailand, who ended their three round-robin matches at the bottom of Group A, lost 3-2 to Hong Kong in the seventh place play-off. That means the Kingdom will play in the second tier of the biennial event next time.

In the mixed doubles, Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam failed to bag the first rubber for the country, going down 21-19 17-21 21-16 to Njoto Albertus Susanto and Koon Wai-chee.

Later, Thai world No 8 Boonsak Ponsana cancelled Hong Kong's advantage with a convincing 21-4 21-13 win over unheralded Chan Yan-kit in the men's singles.

However, Hong Kong's world No 13 Yip Pui-yin split the tie by edging Boonsak's younger sister Salakjit 21-15 22-20 in the women's singles.

In the men's doubles, Sudket returned to team up with his old partner Phattapol Ngernsrisuk for the first time since a six-month break.

The duo set the team back on track after battling back from the brink of defeat to beat Indonesian-born Njoto and Yohan Hadikuson Wiratama 13-21 21-18 21-17 to earn a crucial point for Thailand.

The women's doubles match turned out to be the clincher.

After knotting at one game all with an identical scoreline of 21-15, Thais Duang-anong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul broke the deadlock to lead 20-19, but Koon and Chua Hoi-wah held their nerve to win 22-20 - and take the place in Division 1 away.