Bowman in Scots badminton squad for European team championships

Jan 8 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BELLSHILL badminton player Andrew Bowman has been included in the six-strong Scotland team to contest the European Team Championships in Liverpool next month.

The competition, which takes place at the Echo Arena from February 10-15, will see doubles star Bowman (24) come up against his international partner Martyn Lewis.

Scotland face a tough tournament as they have been drawn in the same group as second seeds England, Wales and the Czech Republic.

Others in what is a strong squad include new Bank of Scotland International women’s doubles champion Jillie Cooper, and 2007 Bank of Scotland mixed doubles champion Imogen Bankier.

Bowman, Bankier and Cooper will face many of the GB squad players they train with at Milton Keynes.

Commonwealth bronze medallist Susan Hughes, Yonex Welsh Open finalist Kieran Merrilees and Renfrew ace Watson Briggs complete the squad.

Non-travelling reserves are Glasgow’s Gordon Thomson and Linda Sloan and Livingston’s Thomas Bethell.

Scotland will be very keen to improve on their ninth place finish at the 2008 European Championships in Denmark.

However, there will be no group play-offs in Liverpool, with only the winners progressing to the knock-out quarter-finals so Scotland’s task is very difficult.

Holders Denmark are the top seeds, while hosts England are second seeds and a repeat of the 2008 final between the pair is widely expected.

Scotland start the tournament against Wales on Tuesday, February 10, before facing the Czech Republic the following day. The clash with England takes place two days later.

Tickets for the tournament are available now and can be booked online at: www.europeanbadminton.com