Bothwell badminton star is knocked out of Welsh Badminton Open

Dec 3 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

KIRSTY GILMOUR made it through to the first round of the Yonex Welsh Badminton Open at Cardiff last weekend before being knocked out.

The 16-year-old, from Bothwell, was playing against older and much more experienced opposition.

She did well to get through two qualifying rounds, against Ireland’s Emma Callow and sixth qualifying seed Josie Latimer of England.

But Kirsty’s tournament hopes ended in the first round proper against England’s fourth seed, Helen Davies.

Kirsty, who was the nation’s lone hope in the women’s singles, is being put through a series of highly competitive competitions by BADMINTONscotland in a bid to ready her for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Lanark player Kenneth Young had a first-round bye but the fourth qualifying seed was then beaten by Toby Penty of England 21-14, 21-8.

In the men’s doubles, Andrew Bowman from Bellshill and Longniddry partner Paul van Rietvelde were knocked out in a close first-round match against English pair Chris Coles and Matthew Nottingham.