Glasgow 2014: Badminton duo hope for singles chance

SCOTTISH badminton’s governing body is to battle the Commonwealth Games team selectors over a snub to two players.

The Scotland Commonwealth Games badminton team announcement at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow. Picture: Jeff Holmes/PA

Caitlin Pringle and Rebekka Findlay were this week named in Scotland’s ten-strong badminton squad for the Games, which take place in Glasgow in July.

But they have only been selected for the team event and not the singles competitions.

So Badminton Scotland yesterday launched a selection appeal on behalf of Pringle and Findlay.

The girls will join Robert Blair, Kieran Merrilees, Paul Van Rietvelde, Patrick MacHugh, Martin Campbell, Kirsty Gilmour, Imogen Bankier and Jillie Cooper in the Scotland team .

But Badminton Scotland is keen for Glasgow’s Pringle and Erskine’s Findlay to gain the experience of competing in the individual event as well.

The Governing body’s president, Ronnie Conway, congratulated all the players on their selection at the team announcement at the Emirates Arena yesterday.

He also made a presentation to Imogen Bankier to mark her 50th appearance for Scotland in naming her Scotland’s greatest woman badminton player.

But he also confirmed that Badminton Scotland would lodge an appeal on behalf of Pringle in the hope they can take part in the individual event. And the body’s chief executive Anne Smillie added: “This would be a great experience for both girls.

“You only have to look at the way Kirsty Gilmour has developed since playing at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India when just 17 to see how her game has benefited and developed. We feel it would do the same for Caitlin and Rebekka as we try to build a strong Scotland squad going forward.

“As it happens, both girls are ranked high enough to qualify for the World Championships at the end of August so we would like Commonwealth Games Scotland to take this into account when we ask them to consider our appeal.

“Badminton takes place on every competition day of Glasgow 2014 and we want our all the players in the squad to enjoy the experience and pressures of playing in front of a passionate home crowd. It will equip them well for future events.”