New arena fails to boost home results

Earlier, Gilmour, below, 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 following a great start to the new season. But the loss proved she still has a lot of work to do if she is to be a medal hope come the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, now just 20 months away.

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 and it made it a slightly disappointing finale for the Scottish challenge.

Scots have won titles regularly in recent years, but this is the second time in a row that there hasn’t been a Scottish presence on finals day.

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 in Edinburgh and then 20 years at the Kelvin Hall, the new Glasgow home for the championships has been a resounding success.

The Emirates Arena has been set up in world-class fashion and, while she may be biased, Gilmour was among those to heap praise on the new facility situated opposite Celtic Park in the east end of the city.

“It’s easily the best courts I’ve played on this year,” said the winner of early season tournaments in Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

“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.”

In addition to the main event, BADMINTONscotland runs carnivals for school age children and more than 3,000 will have attended the session by the time the curtain falls on the championships this evening. This year, there was the bonus of a chance to hit shuttles with Olympians Susan Egelstaff and Imogen Bankier, and have a photograph as a souvenir.

“Kids from primary four to senior one took part in fun skill practices and they then have the chance to watch the world stars in action,” explained John Shearer, Scotland’s coach and development officer. “It’s been a great initiative. Imogen and Susan both attended Carnivals when they were at school – and they went on to compete in the London Olympics.”