Badminton: Hamilton players shunned from national championships

Feb 18 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BADMINTON’S governing body this week effectively slammed the door shut on two national champions being allowed to represent Scotland.

The snub came as a shock to Scottish National Doubles champions Jamie Neill and Keith Turnbull, who thought they were in with a chance of helping Scotland to qualify for the Thomas Cup this week.

A fortnight ago, Neill (25), from Hamilton and 27-year-old Turnbull, from Larkhall, beat top seeds Watson Briggs and Paul van Rietvelde, but BADMINTONscotland chiefs have hinted that the self-funded duo have next to no chance of ever being selected for national duty.

Chief executive Anne Smillie this week told the Advertiser: “It is possible that Keith Turnbull and Jamie Neill could qualify for selection in the future if a full team could not be selected... but this is unlikely.

“The understanding of the selectors is that they didn’t meet the criteria and what they would have to do is to start beating players inside the top 50 world rankings on a regular basis , or be identified as having the potential to do so.

“It’s our opinion that these players have reached their potential.”

Jamie (25), of Burnblea Street, who is a badminton coach at Hamilton Esporta alongside Turnbull, said the decision was hard to take.

He added: “BADMINTONscotland have made decisions in the past that we’ve thought were unfair but that was the worst for a while.

“It’s a real kick in the teeth because we did the most we could.”

For more on this story, turn to page 94.