Who is competing for Scotland at the Scottish Open Badminton Championships?

The entry list for the Scottish Open has been announced, featuring 354 participants from 36 countries, promising another incredible event with world-class badminton talent from around the globe.

Closer to home, our Scottish athletes will be competing at the top levels of their events with opportunity to catch Scotland’s finest in all five events. Those competing in qualification will play on Thursday 21st November, with the main draw commencing on the Friday 22nd November. To buy tickets click the link here: Tickets to the Scottish Open

Matt and Chris Grimley are the highest-ranked men’s doubles pair, last winning the Scottish Open in 2021. After winning the 2023 Welsh International gold the twins will be looking to continue their British success reclaiming their 2021 title.

Close behind, Alex Dunn and Julie Macpherson are second in the mixed doubles rankings, despite being a relatively new partnership following Adam Hall’s decision to end his international mixed doubles career to focus solely on men’s doubles. This will be the first time Macpherson and Dunn compete together at the Scottish Open, where they’re ranked second in the entry list. They have yet to reach an international podium together, but support from the home crowd could be just what they need to achieve this milestone.

Macpherson is also ranked second in the women’s doubles with her partner Ciara Torrance. For the first time in several years, the women’s doubles event matches the number of entries as the men’s doubles, setting up an incredibly competitive year. After reaching the semi-finals at the 2023 Scottish Open and winning their first international gold at the 2024 Belgium Open, the pair looks strong as they prepare to compete again in Glasgow.

They’re not the only Scottish gold medalists in the women’s doubles. U19 Irish winners Brooke Stalker and Ishbel McCallister are in the qualification rounds as they bring their skill to the senior level. Other junior players in the qualification draw include Pranavi Singh and Katie Stewart.

Stalker also won gold at the U19 Irish Open with mixed doubles partner Lewis Coghill. The pair will make their senior debut at the Scottish Open in the qualification rounds. Other young Scottish athletes in the entries include Angus Meldrum and Katrina Chan, as well as an exciting team-up between Chris Grimley and Ciara Torrance, who are stepping out of their regular doubles events. Matt Grimley will also team up with Danish partner Sara Thygesen. Rounding out the Scottish mixed doubles qualification entries are Josh Taylor with Katie Stewart and Selvaduray Mahendrraan with English partner Lavanyah Logan.

In the mixed doubles main draw, Adam Pringle and Rachel Andrew are also competing. Following an impressive run at the 2024 Dutch Open, where they narrowly missed a semi-final spot, they are a pair to watch closely.

Pringle will also compete in men’s doubles with Dunn where they hold the top qualification rank. They recently battled out of qualification to reach the Round of 16 at the 2024 Arctic Open and, just this week, made headlines by knocking out the eighth seeds in the first round of the Hylo Open. Joining them in the men’s doubles qualification are Scottish pairs Evan Kenny and Lewis Coghill, Callum Crangle and Josh Taylor, and the brother duo Callum and Tyler Smith.

Callum Smith’s main event is the men’s singles, one of the most competitive categories. Smith has been granted a wildcard in the main draw as Scotland’s top-ranked men’s singles player. Last month, he earned his first international podium spot with a silver at the Kampala Open in Uganda. After missing last year due to injury, he is determined to make a strong comeback.

Five Scottish players feature in the men’s singles qualification: Angus Meldrum, Joshua Apilga, James Robertson, Finlay Jack, and Shaun Ally Aamir.

With no Scots in the main women’s singles draw, Rachel Sugden and Lauren Middleton will compete in the qualifying. Sugden took bronze at the 2024 Belgium Open, marking her first international medal since Iceland 2020. Both players are in good form and look poised to reach the main draw.