Scots Ready to Take on the World’s Elite in Orléans

17th March by Robert McLean

Another busy week on the international circuit sees Scotland’s top badminton stars arrive in France for the Orléans Masters Badminton 2026, a prestigious stop on the HSBC BWF World Tour. With valuable ranking points and momentum on the line, the event promises high-quality competition against some of the world’s best.

However, it’s not a full-strength Scottish contingent. Key players Kirsty Gilmour and Ciara Torrance remain sidelined through injury and will miss this week’s action. Both will now focus on recovery ahead of the upcoming European Badminton Championships 2026 in Spain.

Opening Day Focus

Day one in Orléans brings Scottish representation across two disciplines, men’s doubles and women’s singles, with several intriguing matchups.

The Grimley Twins step onto Court One for the 12th match of the day, facing Japan’s Hiroki Okamura and Kyohei Yamashita. With the Japanese pair ranked 373rd in the world, this first-ever meeting presents a strong opportunity, but one that is expected to be tightly contested as both pairs look to settle quickly into the tournament.

In women’s singles, Rachel Sugden begins her campaign in the final round of qualifying. She takes on Japan’s Kaoru Sugiyama, currently ranked 111th in the world. On paper, it’s an evenly balanced clash, with Sugden aiming to come through and secure a coveted place in the main draw.

Scottish Campaign Continues

Attention will then turn to the later stages of the week, with more Scots entering the fray.

Men’s doubles pair Alex Dunn and Adam Pringle are set to begin their campaign on Wednesday, where they will face either Czech duo Jiří Král and Ondřej Král or India’s M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan. Both potential opponents present different challenges, ensuring a demanding start regardless of the draw.

Dunn will also feature in mixed doubles alongside Julie MacPherson, with the pair scheduled to play on Wednesday. They face a stern test against the 14th seeds, Denmark’s Rasmus Espersen and Amalie Cecilie Kudsk. The Scottish duo will be hoping to carry forward their strong recent form and make a statement against seeded opposition.

Backroom Support

Guiding the team this week is coach Robert Blair, whose experience will be key as the squad looks to continue its upward trajectory on the world stage.

How to Watch & Follow

Fans can catch all the action live on the BWF TV YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/bwftv where matches from Orléans will be streamed throughout the week.

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for a full tournament roundup at the conclusion of the event.