Scotland prepare to face the world at the Uber Cup
The team which will represent Scotland at the Women’s World Team Championships – also known as the Uber Cup – has now been confirmed by Badminton Scotland.
Kirsty Gilmour is the most experienced member of the seven-strong squad, which also includes two players – Rachel Andrew and Lauren Middleton – who will be making their first appearance in a Scotland shirt at senior level.
Julie MacPherson, Eleanor O’Donnell, Rachel Sugden and Ciara Torrance complete the squad which will travel to the event in Aarhus, Denmark, from 3-11 October 2020.
It is the first time Scotland have qualified for the finals of the Uber Cup and they did so in stunning fashion by reaching the semi-finals of the European Women’s Team Championships in France back in February, picking up Scotland’s first ever bronze medal at the event in the process.
A youthful Scotland team beat Norway, Poland, seventh seeds Spain and second seeds Russia before a 3-1 defeat courtesy of a strong German team ended their European campaign.
But finishing as one of the best four teams in Europe meant the Scots had already secured their place in the World Team finals, originally scheduled to be held in May.
The Covid 19 pandemic resulted in the finals being postponed, but the best female players in Scotland will finally get the chance to pit themselves against the best in the world in October, where they have been drawn in Group 3 alongside Thailand, Denmark and Canada.
Badminton Scotland’s Head Coach Ingo Kindervater said: “We have a young team at the moment, but it is a squad which is full of potential and has a very exciting future.
“The players showed just how much potential they have back in February when they won bronze at the Europeans, beating a number of higher ranked countries in the process.
“The standard of play at the Uber Cup finals will be even more of a challenge and although a medal this time around is a bit too much to expect, the experience of facing the best the world has to offer will no doubt stand our players in good stead in the future and I am confident they will represent Scotland with distinction once again.”
The full Scotland squad, which will be coached by Robert Blair, is
Rachel Andrew, 19, Edinburgh
Kirsty Gilmour, 26, Glasgow
Julie MacPherson, 22, Edinburgh
Lauren Middleton, 20, Dundee
Eleanor O’Donnell, 21, Beith
Rachel Sugden, 18, Alexandria
Ciara Torrance, 19, Paisley