Double Gold Success for Scotland at YONEX Belgian International
14th September 2026 by Robert McLean
It was a fantastic week for Scotland’s top shuttlers at the YONEX Belgian International in Nieuwpoort, with Kirsty Gilmour and the Grimley twins both finishing at the top of the podium after an impressive week of badminton.
Following on from Thursday’s report, Kirsty Gilmour continued her excellent run with a confident performance against Ireland’s Sophia Noble in the last 16. Kirsty controlled the match from the outset, securing a convincing 21-15, 21-11 victory to book her place in the quarter-finals.
On Friday, Kirsty produced another dominant display, reaching the highest levels of her game to defeat Israel’s Heli Neiman 21-10, 21-10 and progress to the semi-finals.
Later that day, Kirsty faced a familiar opponent in Germany’s Yvonne Li. In a closely fought and entertaining contest, the two battled throughout, but it was Kirsty who held her nerve in the deciding game to secure victory and a place in Saturday’s final.
Awaiting Kirsty in the final was third seed Zhang of Canada. Kirsty was simply too strong on the day, producing another outstanding performance to win in straight games and claim the Belgian International title.
The Grimley twins were equally impressive throughout the tournament, producing an imperious run to the men’s doubles title without dropping a single set. They maintained their unbeaten run through the draw before defeating Denmark’s Nebel and Søby in the final to secure a second Scottish gold medal and complete a memorable week for Scotland.
There were also several strong performances across the other Scottish entries.
Matthew Waring enjoyed an excellent run through qualifying to reach the main draw. His journey eventually came to an end in the last 32 following a tough three-game battle against France’s Lièvre, but his performance in reaching the main draw was a significant positive.
In mixed doubles, Alex and Julie suffered an upset in their opening match, losing to Denmark’s Søby and Røjkjær. The Danish pair went on to demonstrate their quality by claiming the tournament title.
Julie and Ciara progressed to the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles before being involved in another titanic three-game encounter against Denmark’s Nielsen and Røjkjær. Despite their best efforts, the Danish pairing eventually came through.
Meanwhile, Josh and Evan saw their men’s doubles campaign end in the last 32, losing to eventual runners-up Søby and Nebel.
Overall, it was a fantastic week for Scottish badminton, highlighted by two gold medals and some excellent performances throughout the draw. Kirsty Gilmour and the Grimley twins were deserved champions, while the strong runs from the wider Scottish squad provided plenty of encouragement.
A special thanks must also go to coach Raj Ouseph for his support, guidance and commitment to all of the players throughout the tournament.
A memorable week in Nieuwpoort, and a brilliant showcase of Scottish badminton on the international stage.