Scottish Open 2024: Katrina Chan and Angus Meldrum open the tournament in intense first game

Scottish teammates Angus Meldrum and Katrina Chan have opened this year’s Scottish Badminton Open 2024.

The mixed doubles duo faced a tough match against English competitors Ewen Stephen and Anne Hubscher, who began to overwhelm the Scottish pair in the early rounds of the game.

Following a difficult start for the Scottish duo in the opening game of qualification the more experienced pair of Stephen and Hubscher, who recently made it to the quarter finals of the RSL Iceland International 2024, won the first round of qualifying 21-21, 18-13.

Stephen and Hubscher will now face another Scottish duo Josh Taylor and Katie Stewart in the second round of qualification this afternoon.

Scottish stars Meldrum did well to recover from a tight opening to take it all the way to the end where they then faltered.

Meldrum expressed his disappointed at being unable to close the gap in the game: “It is a tricky hall to plan in if you haven’t played in it much. It is a little bit different from playing in smaller halls like we are used to.

“Not our best performance, but we have got singles later on so it is always good to get a warm up in the hall before we play our main event, but definitely wish we could’ve done better in that match.”

However, despite the difficult start to the day both remain Meldrum and Chan remain hopeful for their upcoming singles matches later on today.

Meldrum will face Australian player Karono Karono, while Chan will face Sophia Noble, an Irish star ranked 182 in the world following Chan’s promotion from the Junior matches.

Chan reacted to the news she had been moved up to the Women’s Singles qualification: “I’m happy with that, wasn’t expecting it, but it’s good to play in my hometown with my family here.”

By Paul Brady

Watch all the action: Home | Badminton Europe TV

Follow all results: Scottish Open 2024 | Tournamentsoftware.com

Get your tickets for the rest of the tournament: The Scottish Badminton Championships 2024 – Lokkaroom – Tickets