Badminton: Kirsty takes two titles to confound the doubters

Oct 9 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Kirsty takes two titles to confound the doubters

KIRSTY Gilmour continued her good run of form to take the Under-19s singles and doubles titles at last weekend’s Bank of Scotland Badminton Championships in Edinburgh.

And proud dad Brian hopes it makes selectors sit up and take notice, after critics doubted Kirsty’s ability to succeed in the competitive doubles environment.

Top seed Kirsty (15), from Bothwell, defeated new doubles partner Kirsten Geals 21/10 21/11 in the singles final, before they teamed up to dump Cumbernauld’s Catriona Lawlor and Mauchline’s Kaity Hall in the doubles – despite the duo being unseeded.

The tournament, held at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Sports Centre, attracted a bumper entry of 150, and dad Brian is proud that Kirsty finished on top of the pile.

He said: “Kirsty was absolutely brilliant. She was seeded for the singles tournament but there is a lot of pressure on the top seeds, and she was up against girls she didn’t really know.

“She was very consistent, keeping the shuttlecock on the court and was better than she has been for a while.

“Kirsty came through the semi-final against Catriona Lawlor OK and then in the final she was up against Kirsten Geals, who is the best singles player in the year above her.

“In the doubles Kirsty and Kirsten were unseeded and it was unexpected by many that they would win, but it just shows how much she is coming on – Kirsty hasn’t been rated as a doubles player, but she proved she’s a force to be reckoned with.

“Maybe the selectors will need to sit up and take a bit of notice.”

Governing body BADMINTONscotland were delighted with the quality of last weekend’s tournament.

Chief executive Anne Smillie said: “This was the first Bank of Scotland Championships of the new season and it offered a great chance to see some of the emerging talent in Scotland.

“Congratulations to all the winners, and I hope to see some of the older players trying for a place in the Bank of Scotland International Championships at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall in November.”

Karen Tighe, deputy head of sponsorship for Bank of Scotland, commented: “It was a fantastic weekend of competition and the standard was very impressive from all competitors.

“Judging by the standard of play this weekend, the future for badminton in Scotland could be very bright.”

Following the championships Kirsty takes a well-earned break from competitions, but Brian (46), says his daughter will work just as hard in training.

He said: “Kirsty has a break for about a month before she takes part in the Yonex East of Scotland Junior Championships at Meadowbank on November 8 and 9, and the Northumberland Under-19 championships in North Shields on November 22-23, through BADMINTON England.

“It gives her a wee rest at the weekend and she’s earned it, because she’s working hard every night of the week with the Glasgow School of Sport and the West Institute of Sport.

“Kirsty’s uncle David, a former Scotland international badminton player, also coaches her sometimes twice a week on top of that.”