Four players to represent Scotland at Para-Badminton World Championships

Four players will travel to Basel to represent Scotland at the TOTAL BWF Para-Badminton World Championships this summer.

Held alongside the TOTAL BWF World Championships for the first time, the Para-Badminton World Championships take place from 20-25 August in Basel.

Colin Leslie, Alan Oliver and Mary Wilson are all aiming for honours in the SL3-SU5 events while Bobby Laing will compete in the SS6 events but Swiss gold won’t be the only thing on the minds of the players.

All four Scots are aiming for qualification for the Paralympics next year, where badminton makes its debut and with significant ranking points on offer at the Para-Badminton World Championships every result will count towards qualification for Tokyo 2020.

Laing, who won silverware over the weekend at the Irish Para-Badminton Championships, will compete in all three disciplines in Basel.

He plays in the SS6 men’s singles as well as partnering two English players in the doubles events – Andrew Moorcroft in the men’s doubles and Rebecca Bedford in mixed.

Leslie and Oliver will both play the SL3 men’s singles and doubles, although they don’t partner each other in the doubles with Leslie playing with Anthony Forster (England) and Oliver teaming up with Rickard Nilsson (Sweden).

Meanwhile Wilson will compete in the SL4 women’s singles and also teams up with Forster in mixed doubles.

The draws will be made by BWF on 18 August 2019.

The National Disability Badminton Squad is looking for sparrers to help our Paralympic hopefuls in their training. Men and women of all ages who play at club or county level would be welcome. If interested, contact Sarah Bok on sarahbokpt@hotmail.co.uk