Badminton: Kirsty Gilmour flies high before fall

The Bothwell 18-year-old underlined her talent with a comprehensive 21-14, 21-12 win over Commonwealth medalist Cann. But she then bowed out in a three game thriller – 16-21, 21-14, 16-21 – to Denmark’s Line Kjaersfeldt.

The win over Cann, who is ranked 106 places higher at No 48 in the world, also served as a good turn for Scottish Champion Susan Egelstaff, who missed the championships through injury. Egelstaff, at No 31 in the world, needs to stay ahead to clinch selection for the London 2012 Olympics.

“I was so happy to play so well against Liz,” said Gilmour, a bronze medalist at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games. “There was a lot more pressure on her, and I always think I play better when I’m the underdog. But then it was disappointing to go out in the next round.”

Gilmour had played fellow-teenager Kjaersfeldt on many occasions and the Scot reckoned it was pretty much all square in terms of results. But the tall Dane took charge in the first game, winning the first five points without reply. The second saw Gilmour rule out the unforced errors and take control.

The decider was also going in the local girl’s favour and she changed ends at 11-9 ahead. But the next three points went to Kjaersfeldt, ranked No 311 in singles and apparently concentrating more on doubles, who never again lost the lead.

In the mixed doubles, Edinburgh’s Jillie Cooper and Renfrew’s Watson Briggs beat two French couples to reach the quarter-finals. Cooper, who won the women’s doubles title in 2008, and Briggs, making a comeback after a year out of the sport, opened their campaign with a 23-21, 25-23 win over Sylvain Grosjean and Emilie Lefel.

The perfect follow-up was a 21-19, 21-15 victory over Baptiste Careme and Audrey Fontaine to make it into the last eight.