The stage is set at the Emirates Arena for Finals Day at the 2017 Scottish Badminton Open Grand Prix and the conclusion of five days of world-class action featuring more than 300 competitors from 37 nations. Action starts at 10.30am and tickets are available.
The world’s fastest racquet sport never fails to deliver superb spectator action and just a few short months after the TOTAL BWF World Championships captivated the Glasgow crowds badminton has returned to the Emirates Arena over the last seek.
The best Scottish players have been taking on competitors coming from as far as China, Malaysia, Australia, Russia and Brazil making this year’s Scottish Badminton Open Grand Prix once more a truly global event. And in addition to the on court action there’s fun for all the family throughout the event in the shape of face painting, green screen photography, not to mention the chance to meet some of Scotland’s star players, prize competitions, and more.
Read on for a preview courtesy of BADMINTONscotland:-
Photo: BADMINTONScotland
European and Commonwealth silver medallist Kirsty Gilmour (pictured left) leads the home contingent as she looks to make it third time lucky after finishing as runner-up on two occasions.
Her main challengers for the women’s singles title come in the form of Spain’s Beatriz Corrales and Sabrina Jaquet of Switzerland – the latter whom Gilmour defeated in the semi-finals at this year’s European Championships. Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt reached the last four at the Emirates Arena last year and will be eager to go one better this time round, with England’s Fontaine Wright looking to impress on British turf.
In the men’s singles, European champion and Olympic quarter-finalist Rajiv Ouseph heads up the entries as he chases his third Scottish Open title. The Englishman won in Glasgow in 2008 and 2011, but Scotland’s Kieran Merrilees (pictured below left) and Matt Carder will be keen to shine in front of a bumper home crowd while Ben Torrance and Christopher and Matthew Grimley will be hoping to fight their way through the qualifying event to reach the main draw. No Scot has won the men’s singles title since 1968, with 2016 semi-finalist Fabian Roth of Germany and Denmark’s Emil Holst also set to challenge for the top prize.
Olympic bronze medallists Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis will spearhead the battle for the top of the podium in the men’s doubles, with Ellis a previous winner in 2010 alongside Peter Mills. Martin Campbell and Patrick MacHugh will lead the Scottish charge in the event alongside Alex Dunn and Adam Hall and the Grimley brothers. Jack MacGregor and Ciar Pringle and Danny Leinster and Steven Stewart will attempt to qualify for the main draw.
Last year’s semi-finalists Jelle Maas and Robin Tabeling of the Netherlands return for another tilt at the title, but keep an eye out for England’s Peter Briggs and Tom Wolfenden, who won the YONEX Canada Open crown earlier this year.
Not since 2009 has a Russian pair won the women’s doubles title in Glasgow but Olga Morozova and Anastasia Chervyakova will be looking to change just that as they head up the entries. English Olympians Lauren Smith and Sarah Walker could prove key in preventing that as they look to improve on 2016’s semi-final finish, as will Julie Finne-Ipsen and Rikke Søby.
Julie MacPherson and Eleanor O’Donnell will fly the flag for Scotland, as well as Basia Grodynska alongside England’s Emily Robinson. Scotland also have players in the qualifying competition in the form of Lauren Middleton and Sarah Sidebottom, Holly Newall and Ciara Torrance and Toni Woods, who partners Sweden’s Emma Thorne.
Photo: BADMINTONscotland
In the mixed doubles, Ireland’s Sam and Chloe Magee top the entries list but England’s Ellis and Smith will be looking to go all the way in Glasgow after their recent YONEX Dutch Open success. Ellis was triumphant in the mixed doubles back in 2012 alongside Gabby Adcock. Watch out for their fellow compatriots Ben Lane and Jess Pugh who could also pose a threat, with Campbell and MacPherson keen to thrill on familiar soil.
Ronan Labar and Audrey Fontaine will look to become the first ever French champions in the event, while Dutch duo Selena Piek and Jacco Arends, as well as Bastian Kersaudy and Lea Palermo of France, are also among the challengers. Grodynska will also be representing the home nation in the mixed doubles, this time alongside Australia’s Huaidong Tang, while Dunn and O’Donnell, Hall and Torrance, and Ciar Pringle and his older sister Caitlin will start in the qualifying draw.
Today’s action starts at 10.30am with the first finals session followed by the second finals session from 1pm onwards.
Tickets in advance for the Scottish Badminton Open Grand Prix are available online via the ‘Get Tickets’ link.
Tickets on the day can be purchased (subject to availability*) at the Emirates Arena box office priced: Adults £10 ~ Concessions (U16s and >65s) £7. Season tickets are also available priced at Adults £16 and Concessions £10.
*Checking availability on the door via the BADMINTONscotland Twitter feed before travelling is recommended.