Scotland stars into the semi-finals of the European Championships
Scotland have two medal hopes remaining at the 2022 European Championships, with both Kirsty Gilmour and the men’s doubles pairing of Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall in action this afternoon (Friday).
Gilmour, twice a silver medallist in this competition, is set for a crunch clash which pits third seed against second as she takes on Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in the last four.
The 28-year-old has been in fine form across the week in Madrid, beginning her campaign by beating Gayle Mahulette in straight games.
She came from behind to beat Kristin Kuuba of Estonia 18-21, 21-9, 21-15 in the third round, to set up a quarter-final against Belgian eighth seed Lianne Tan.
The tie went to a decider, which was neck-and-neck at 6-6 before a run of six straight points put Gilmour in the driving seat – the Scot went on to win it 21-15 and book her place in the semis.
Carolina Marin, who has beaten Gilmour in each of her previous European Championship final appearances, is in the other semi-final as she continues a successful return to court following 11 months out injured.
Gilmour was a losing semi-finalist last year, winning the bronze medal match for her third European medal, and will hope to make the showpiece occasion for the first time since 2017.
Dunn and Hall, meanwhile, remain in with a chance of their first European Championship podium as a pairing following an excellent week so far.
They opened up by beating Luka Ban and Filip Spoljarec in straight games before needing three to overcome Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar.
Another French pair lay in wait in the last eight, brothers Christo and Toma Popov, but Dunn and Hall were too good for the fourth seeds and prevailed 21-16, 21-13.
They will now play Ruben Jille and Ties van der Lecq, seeded eighth, in the semi-finals.
Hall also reached the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles, alongside Julie MacPherson, before going down 23-25, 17-21 to German fourth seeds Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Lohau.
Elsewhere, Christopher and Matthew Grimley reached the second round in the men’s doubles, comfortably beating Jose Molares and Jaume Perez, before losing out to fifth seeds Jeppe Bay and Lasse Molhede.
MacPherson and Ciara Torrance, seeded fifth in the women’s doubles, lost their first-round clash against Margot Lambert and Anne Tran and there were also early exits for Christopher Grimley and Eleanor O’Donnell (mixed doubles) and Callum Smith (men’s singles).
Watch all the action live on Badminton Europe TV and stay up to date on Tournament Software.