Meldrum Impresses and Sugden Shines in Germany

2nd June 2025

It was a week of standout performances and inspiring resilience for Scotland’s senior badminton squad at the Bonn International, as Angus Meldrum and Rachel Sugden showcased their class on the European stage.

While Sen Thomas, our non-competing senior squad member, faced a tough draw against Finland’s seasoned Joonas Korhonen, losing 5-21, 8-21 in the opening round of qualifiers, the focus quickly shifted to the incredible form shown by Meldrum and Sugden.

Angus Meldrum delivered a string of strong performances, navigating a tough qualifying draw with determination and skill. He opened with a confident straight-sets win over Norway’s Filip Boehn (21-15, 21-14), followed by a monumental victory against England’s top-seeded qualifier Sid Palakkal in a physically demanding three-set battle (21-18, 9-21, 21-14). Meldrum eventually bowed out to the experienced Dutch player Jasper Koppen in a narrow final-round qualifier (18-21, 20-22). Despite the loss, the Scottish No. 3 has every reason to be proud of his performance, demonstrating his growing consistency and competitiveness at international level. All eyes now turn to the Victor Latvia International Future Series beginning June 11, where Angus will look to build on this momentum.

Rachel Sugden, Scotland’s No. 2, was in exceptional form throughout the week, storming through to the semi-finals in a run marked by grit, poise, and top-tier shot-making. In the Round of 32, she overcame Swiss veteran and former European medalist Jenjira Stadelmann in three sets (21-18, 18-21, 21-14). The quarter-final clash against India’s second seed and world-ranked 136 Aashi Rawat was a high-octane thriller, with Rachel edging out a win in another intense three-setter (22-20, 22-24, 21-19). Her semi-final matchup saw her face Ireland’s rising star Sophia Noble. Despite a valiant effort, Sugden narrowly lost a razor-tight first set (21-23) and couldn’t recover in the second (12-21), earning a well-deserved bronze medal.

Rachel’s semi-final finish against such strong international opposition reflects her growing confidence and standing in the senior circuit. With time to regroup and reflect, her next steps on the international stage will be followed with keen interest.

Rachel Sugden

Angus Meldrum