Badminton: Cooper out to get glory in Scottish doubles

Published on 02/02/2013 14:09

EDINBURGH’S Jillie Cooper is hoping to help Kirsty Gilmour win a hat-trick of titles at this weekend’s Yonex Scottish National Badminton Championships at the Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth.

Gilmour is top seed and defending champion in the women’s singles and No. 1 seed with Cooper in the women’s doubles.

The main threat comes from veteran Rita Yuan Gao, No. 2 seed in singles and in doubles alongside Glasgow teenager, Caitlin Pringle. The four-time former singles champion is now coaching in Switzerland and she landed the National treble in 2002 and 2000.

There is disappointment in the men’s singles with defending champion Kieran Merrilees out through injury. Falkirk’s Calum Menzies, a former winner, is the new top seed.

In the men’s doubles, Edinburgh’s Martin Campbell and Troon’s Angus Gimour are the No. 1 seeds with Longniddry’s Paul van Rietvelde at No. 2 alongside Renfrew’s Watson Briggs.