Shock defeat for Gilmour

Kirsty Gilmour, bidding for a victory double at the Yonex Scottish National Championships, was on the wrong end of an upset in Perth last night.

Defending the mixed doubles title, Gilmour and Patrick Machugh met their match in the semi-finals, losing 22-20, 21-18 to Martin Campbell and Julie Macpherson, the No 3/4 seeds, who were surprise straight-game winners against the No 1 seeds.

In tomorrow’s final, Campbell and Macpherson will face the other 3/4 seeds, Alex Dunn and Eleanor O’donnell, who also caused an upset in the semi-finals by knocking out No 2 seeds Adam Hall and Ciara Torrance 21-19, 21-9.

Gilmour will hope there is no similar surprise in the singles starting today. Winner for the past six years, she is odds-on favourite in the women’s singles, with Glasgow’s Kieran Merrilees tipped to win the men’s title for a sixth time.

Merrilees is the defending champion and top seed, with former champion Matthew Carder expected to make it to the final tomorrow afternoon.