Badminton: Brave Emma out of Yonex

EDINBURGH'S Emma Mason and Glasgow's Imogen Bankier put up a brave effort but lost in straight games to the world No.15 pair of Savitree Amitapai and Vacharaporn Munkit in the first round of women's doubles at the Yonex All-England Super Series badminton in Birmingham.

Bankier fared better in the mixed doubles, partnering Edinburgh-born Robert Blair to a 21-19, 17-21, 21-17 win against the English duo of Chris Adcock and Gabby White. But Blair, a former Scottish cap who now plays for England, then pulled out of the men's doubles with a recurrence of a back strain.

He received intense physiotherapy last night and hopes to be fit for the mixed doubles last 16 match against the Chinese No.4 seeds, Hanbin He and Yung Fu.

In the women's singles, Glasgow's Susan Egelstaff produced one her career best performances to reach the last 16. Facing a tough tie against the Japanese No.1 Sayako Sato, the Yonex Scottish National Champion, won 21-9, 21-19. Egesltaff now meets the Chinese No.6 seed, Lan Lu, for a place in the quarter-finals.