China's national women's volleyball team's new world ranking slipped to third after a 3-2 defeat against Thailand at the 2022 FIVB Nations League in Turkey on Sunday.

Thailand claimed the match 25-23, 13-25, 14-25, 25-23, 15-11, with Kokram Pimpichaya and China's Li Yingying scoring a game-high 28 points.

It was China's first loss in the first week of competition, after winning three straight matches against the Netherlands, Turkey and Italy.

Losing 12.84 overall points after Sunday's match, China's  ranking slipped back to third with 352 points after climbing to second with a one-point advantage over Brazil on Saturday. The United States are in first with 380 points, and Brazil are back to second trailing 16 points behind, while Thailand rose to 14th with the win.

This is coach Cai Bin's first appearance with the newly assembled team, who are aiming for the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the season just starting, they still have a long road ahead of them.

China will next face Belgium on June 15.