Kirsty Gilmour Faces Tough Singapore Open Test
26th May 2026 by Robert McLean
Kirsty Gilmour is Scotland’s sole representative this week as she competes at the prestigious KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2026 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The tournament is one of the biggest stops on the HSBC BWF World Tour calendar, carrying Super 750 status and attracting many of the world’s elite players.
Gilmour begins her women’s singles campaign tomorrow in the round of 32, but the Scot has been handed one of the toughest draws possible against world number seven Ratchanok Intanon. The Thai star arrives in Singapore full of confidence after capturing the Malaysia Masters title last week and remains one of the most experienced and dangerous players on the world circuit.
Currently ranked 32 in the world, Gilmour will need to produce one of her strongest performances of the season to overcome the former world champion. Intanon’s trademark deception, creativity and composure continue to make her one of the standout players in women’s singles, with fans and pundits regularly praising both her longevity and elegance on court.
The pair are familiar opponents on the BWF World Tour, having also met in the opening round of last year’s Singapore Open. The head-to-head record heavily favours the Thai player, with Intanon leading 10-1 in previous meetings, meaning Gilmour will need to overturn history if she is to cause one of the early upsets of the tournament.
Guiding Gilmour this week is coach Rajiv Ouseph, whose wealth of international experience and knowledge at the highest level could prove invaluable as the Scot looks to rise to the challenge against one of the sport’s elite competitors.
You can watch all of the action live on BWF TV.
Please stay tuned to our website and social media channels for a full review at the end of the tournament.