Badminton: Kirsty Gilmour triumphs at Belgian International

Sep 16 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

RISING badminton star Kirsty Gilmour did her reputation no harm after reaching the Yonex Belgian International semi-finals last weekend.

At the tournament in Sportoase, Leuven, from September 9-12, Kirsty (16) and mixed doubles partner Kieran Merrilees won their first round match against Belgium’s Mattija Dierickx and Debbie Janssens to set up a tie against second seeds Dave Khodabux and Samantha Barning from Holland.

The Dutch duo withdrew, giving the Scots a bye to the quarter-finals, where they defeated the Welsh pairing of Joe Morgan and Sarah Thomas.

In the semi-finals Johannes Schottler and Sandra Marinello of Germany, the fourth seeds, proved too strong and ran out 21-12 21-12 winners.

However, Kirsty and Kieran’s form bodes well for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where they take part in the mixed doubles and individual events.

Arguably, Kirsty fared even better in the singles at the Belgian International.

She won through qualifying to reach the main draw, where she defeated sixth seed, Austria’s Simone Prutsch, a player ranked 166 places above her in the world rankings.

Prutsch is also ranked 16th in Europe.

In the second round she met Nicola Cerfontyne of England, who won 21-19 21-14.

Against Prutsch, Kirsty lost the first game 11-21 but hit back in style to take the next two 21-12 21-14.

Kirsty’s dad Brian said: “I’m delighted with that and it gives Kirsty a nice wee boost ahead of the Commonwealth Games, which she heads off to in three weeks’ time.

“Results like that show that Kirsty is not an also-ran at this level and she could beat a few players that she’ll be drawn up against.

“She and Kieran were a bit fortunate to reach the semi-finals because a Dutch duo withdrew through injury and they only just beat the Welsh guys in the quarter-finals, but you take it when it’s going, because it will go against you at some point.

“But in the singles competition Kirsty beat a player who is 16thin Europe, so that’s not a badresult!”