New arena fails to boost home results

Hopes of Scottish badminton 
success in Glasgow’s new Emirates Arena came to an end yesterday when 
Jillie Cooper and Kirsty Gilmour lost in the semi-finals of the women’s doubles at the Scottish international championships.

Earlier, Gilmour had lost in a battle of youth versus experience in the quarter-finals of the singles. Seeded seventh, she lost 7-21, 12-21 to Germany’s No.14 seed, Olga Konon. But the seedings were a little misleading. Konon has dropped down the rankings following a knee operation, while Gilmour has risen to a career high of world No.24 but the loss proved she still has a lot of work to do if she is to be a medal hope at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The doubles match was close and Gilmour and Cooper looked to be in control for most of the early exchanges and held a 19-17 lead over the Japanese pair of Naoko Fukuman and Kunumi Yonao. But they lost the next four points to lose the game. With their noses in front and their confidence boosted, the visitors romped away with the second game 21-9.

In the mixed doubles, Cooper and Robert Blair produced a fine show against the Danish No.3 seeds, Anders Kristiansen and Julie Houmann, but exited at the quarter-final stage 21-23, 15-21.

After a long run at Meadowbank and then the Kelvin Hall, the new home for the championships has been a resounding success.

The Emirates Arena has been set up in world-class fashion and Gilmour heaped praise on the new facility.

“It’s easily the best courts I’ve played on this year,” Gilmour said.

“Sometimes the halls are the old-fashioned type with wall bars round the edge of the courts and there is hardly room to move. This week has been fantastic and the crowds have also been very good and really cheered us on.”