A weakened Scotland side put up a brave fight before going down 2-3 to the Ukraine in the first round of Group 3B matches at the Sudirman Cup in China.

Susan Hughes won the women’s singles and Andrew Bowman and Emma Mason claimed the mixed doubles point. But Gordon Thomson lost the men’s singles, and the two doubles matches also went to the Ukranians.

Scotland was struck a blow on the eve of the championships when world top ten doubles player, Imogen Bankier, was forced to pull out with a back problem. Paul Van Rietvelde, the first reserve, also had to withdraw through injury, while Watson Briggs was unavailable due to a clash with his university exams.

Scotland meet Australia today and the final group match is against India.

Results:
Group 3B
Scotland 2 Ukraine 3
Mixed doubles: Andrew Bowman and Emma Mason bt Valeriy Atrashchenkov and Elena Prus 21-19 19-21 22-20
Men's singles: Gordon Thomson lost to Dmytro Zavadsky 21-14 21-17
Women's singles: Susan Hughes bt Larisa Griga 21-12 21-7
Men's doubles: Bowman and Thomas Bethell lost to Vitaly Konov and Zavadsky 24-22 21-16
Women's doubles: Mason and Jillie Cooper lost to Mariya Diptan and Prus 19-21 21-18 21-18