Badminton: Tough start for Merrilees in Wales

KIERAN Merrilees will look to build on his quarter-final appearance at the Bank of Scotland International Championships last weekend when he tackles the Yonex Welsh International this weekend in Cardiff.

But the Glasgow 21-year-old, who was runner-up in Cardiff two years ago, faces a tough start when the sixth seed takes on England's Harry Wright in tomorrow's first round.

In the women's singles, Glasgow's Linda Sloan, who also reached the quarter-finals in Glasgow, takes on England's Sarah Walker, knowing that a win there will almost certainly earn her a second-round clash with second-seed Rachel Howard of England. Bothwell's Kirsty Gilmour faces Nigeria's Susan Ideh in the opening round.

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In the men's doubles, Edinburgh's Martin Campbell and Troon's Angus Gilmour are second seeds and have been awarded a first-round bye, while Longniddry's Paul Van Rietvelde partners England's Gary Fox. They have a tricky opener against England's Mark Middleton and Ben Stawski.

In the mixed doubles, Campbell partners Sloan while Van Rietvelde teams up with England's Sam Ward.