Scotland team confirmed for the European Mixed Team Championships
The team which will represent Scotland in the qualification stage for the European Mixed Team Championships has now been confirmed by Badminton Scotland.
Kirsty Gilmour is the most experienced member of an eight-strong squad which also includes Joshua Apiliga, who will be making his first appearance in a Scotland shirt at senior level.
Joining them in Portugal from 9-12 December will be Chris Grimley and Eleanor O’Donnell who will be aiming to replicate their recent good form at the High Performance Sports Centre in Caldas Da Rainha.
Grimley and O’Donnell won the mixed doubles at the Portuguese International a fortnight ago while Grimley also reached the men’s doubles final and O’Donnell reached the semi-finals of the women’s doubles.
Alex Dunn, Adam Hall, Julie MacPherson and Ciara Torrance complete the line-up for Scotland who will face Latvia, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine in Group 6 with the top team set to qualify for the European Mixed Team Championship finals in Finland from 16-20 February 2021.
Spain are the seeded team in what looks like a very competitive group, but Scotland will go into the event full of confidence.
As well as the recent achievements of Grimley and O’Donnell, Dunn and Hall have come into some form since their enforced break from international duty due to Covid 19 and Gilmour will be relishing the opportunity to face World No. 6 Carolina Marin once more.
Gilmour beat the reigning Olympic and three-time World Champion in straight games on her way to winning the SaarLorLux Open title in Germany last month.
Scotland face hosts Portugal in their opening match on 10 December before playing Ukraine later that afternoon.
Latvia provide the opposition for the Scots on 11 December before they complete their campaign against Spain on December 12.
The full Scotland squad, which will be coached by Ingo Kindervater is:
Joshua Apiliga, 19, Glasgow, 0 international caps
Alex Dunn, 22, Motherwell, 7 caps
Kirsty Gilmour, 27, Glasgow, 43 caps
Chris Grimley, 20, Glasgow, 3 caps
Adam Hall, 24, Mauchline, 13 caps
Julie MacPherson, 23, Edinburgh, 20 caps
Eleanor O’Donnell, 22, Beith,17 caps
Ciara Torrance, 21, Paisley, 6 caps