Badminton: Edinburgh duo surge into the last eight

Edinburgh's Jillie Cooper and Emma Mason made a great start to the Bank of Scotland Scottish International with a 21-15, 21-11 win over England's Jessica Fletcher and Sarah Milne in Glasgow - and they are now into the quarter-finals of the women's doubles.

Following the withdrawal of their Ghanaian second-round opponents, the capital pair are straight through to the last eight and should face the English No.3 seeds, Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White.

"That was a good starter and just what we needed," said Mason. "We have played the odd tournament together, but this is the first time that we have actually had proper preparation."

In the men's doubles, Edinburgh's Martin Campbell and Troon's Angus Gilmour also overcame English opposition to make it safely into the last 16. The No.2 seeds ousted Gary Fox and Neil White 21-17 21-19. After a post-Commonwealth Games reshuffle, Mason and Cooper have been put together as a long-term pairing.

"I feel I've been in limbo for two years and Emma is much the same," said 22-year-old Cooper. "But we both have good results as individuals and although there's still work to do, there are already signs of us making it as a proper pair."

In the singles, Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour, 17, shrugged off a bout of illness to beat England's Alex Langley 21-19 21-13 and progress to the last 32.

Kieran Merrilees, the No. 10 seed, survived a second-game lapse to also make it into the second round of the men's event and Linda Sloan, Rebekka Findlay and Gordon Hoggan completed the list of opening day home singles winners.

Gilmour, who has battled to overcome shingles in time for the event, said: "I was determined to play because this is my favourite tournament of the year."