Badminton: Talent heads to Perth for national championships

Feb 5 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TOP-CLASS badminton talent from across Scotland will descend on Perth today (Friday) for the sport’s national championships.

Among the near 100-strong field in the Yonex-backed event is rising Kinross star Patrick MacHugh, who triumphed in the national U19 boys doubles tournament alongside partner Craig Morrison last October.

A host of Perthshire-based officials will also be showcasing their expertise at one of the sport’s flagship events, which runs all weekend in Bell’s Sports Centre.

Tournament director Ian Brown, president of the Perth and District Badminton Association, said he hoped the presence of the country’s top players would inspire the region’s local talent.

He said: “This is the ninth year in succession the nationals have been held in Perth.

“Its one of the main events in the badminton calendar.

“Selectors for the Scottish team will be here with an eye on the up-coming Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

“It’s pleasing that our local players, and schoolchildren, will get the chance to see such a high calibre of player in action.”

The tournament is partly funded by the Fair City’s common good fund and Perth and Kinross Sports Council.

Common good fund committee chairman Callum Gillies said he was proud to allocate £1250 to the event.

Councillor Gillies told PA Sport: “I think badminton’s governing body and the sponsors class Bell’s Sports Centre as the ideal venue.

“The facilities are excellent and I would hope the organisers are looking to carry on holding the tournament here in future.

“It’s a boost for Perth and its local clubs to host the country’s top players.

“And it’s a window for the top players to be selected for things like the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Perth-based coach Dan Travers was in action for Scotland against England recently during the Robert McCoig Trophy.

The Scots won two of the five playing categories, and finished level with the Auld Enemy in another, but the visitors won the weekend-long Largs contest 14-10.

The annual match is named after Robert S McCoig, who won top titles between the 1950s and 70s, and was a former captain of the Scottish national badminton side.