Singles stars Saina Nehwal [ Images ] and P Kashyap recorded victories but that was not enough to save India [ Images ] from defeat as it lost 2-3 to Chinese Taipei in the Sudirman Cup [ Images ] mixed team badminton competition in Qingdao, China, on Sunday.

Chinese Taipei rode on its strong doubles pairs to edge past India, which badly missed the experienced duo of Jwala Gutta [ Images ] and V Diju, who is nursing an injury.

The tie was locked 2-2, courtesy wins of Saina and Kashyap but the Jwala and Ashwini Ponappa could not win it for India as they lost the decisive fifith rubber 15-21, 17-21 to world No.2 Wen Hsing Cheng and Yu Chin Chien in the women's doubles.

The 32-ranked Indian pair, who won Commonwealth Games [ Images ] gold last year, lost in 23 minutes.

In the first clash, Aparna Balan and Arun Vishnu [ Images ], ranked 88, lost to world number 15 pair Sheng Mu Lee and Yu Chin Chie 17-21, 10-21 in the mixed doubles.

Kashyap, the top Indian in the men's singles at 28, brought India back with a 21-16, 21-13 victory over Hsuan Yi Hsueh.

But Chinese Taipei's men's doubles pair of Sheng Mu Lee and Chieh Min Fang got back the lead with a 21-15, 21-18 victory over Sanave Thomas [ Images ] and Rupesh Kumar [ Images ].

World No.4 Saina Nehwal yet again drew parity for India with a fighting 21-10, 12-21, 21-17 victory over Tzu Ying Tai. But Jwala and Ponappa lost the fifth rubber.

India will next take on Thailand, the third team in group C.