Badminton: Bothwell teen going for glory

Oct 2 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BOTHWELL teenager Kirsty Gilmour will this weekend aim for top prize in the Bank of Scotland National Under-19 Badminton Championships in Edinburgh... aged just 15.

Kirsty goes into the Under-19 singles as top seed, but may find regular doubles partner Kirsty McGlynn and Cumbernauld’s Catriona Lawlor a major hurdle during the event, held at Meadowbank Sports Centre.

Gilmour and McGlynn have won the Under-15 doubles for the last two years, but will be rivals this time around in the higher age category.

Kirsty’s doting dad Brian (46), will be proud of his daughter’s achievements regardless of the outcome, but has high hopes of her adding to an already extensive trophy cabinet.

He said: “Really at the moment Kirsty couldn’t be doing any better; she played in the UK School Games two weeks ago and took gold in the doubles and silver in the singles.

“This time around she’s taking part in the Under-19 category, despite only just turning 15, and is seeded first.

“She has a whole trophy cabinet already and a list of her tournaments last year is as long as my arm – she’s the best there has been for years, certainly since Susan Hughes.”

Brian added: “Kirsty has been playing since she was six, and competing since she was in P4.

“Everyone was laughing at her because she was tiny, but that was only until they played her – and she’s grown quite a bit since then.

“There will be a few players gunning for her, trying to beat her, and Kirsty McGlynn certainly will be, but she’s a good wee competitor.

“Kirsty will be under a wee bit of pressure, but she’s got to be able to handle that for events like this.

“I think Catriona Lawlor might be her biggest hurdle because she’s played against most of the others a few times and usually comes out on top, but she hasn’t played against Catriona before.”

Motherwell’s Fraser Michie will also compete in the Under-19 boys’ singles, and joins partner Jakob Van Den Berg (South Queensferry) in the doubles.