Gilmour gets sweet revenge over Li
KIRSTY GILMOUR bagged Team Scotland’s final medal on the penultimate day of action at Gold Coast 2018 — with a revenge victory over the opponent who denied her gold in Glasgow four years ago.
Gilmour’s bronze in the badminton singles, backing up Jake Wightman’s spectacular thirdplaced finish in a world-class 1,500 metres final on the track, took the Scots to 43 medals overall — well clear of their previous best overseas Games total of 29 from Melbourne in 2006.
And, speaking after her straightsets victory over former world No1 Michelle Li, Gilmour said: ‘There is overwhelming happiness and relief to be standing here.
‘During the last Commonwealth Games, I don’t remember analysing it as much as I did this time.
‘This time, there was a lot of planning and preparation beforehand, because the top four seeds are all capable of beating each other on any given day.’
Li beat Gilmour in the singles final in Glasgow but, with the Canadian suffering from a hip injury, the Scot showed a clinical edge to finish her opponent off.
‘We weren’t sure whether Michelle was going to play because of the injury she suffered during her semi-final and there was a lot going on in my head,’ admitted Gilmour.
‘I wish it was under better circumstances. But, considering the final we played four years ago when she won two comfy sets, to be able to bang that on its head makes me so happy.’
Gilmour paid tribute to Badminton Scotland coach Wong Tat Meng, adding: ‘I owe the last year solely to Tat Meng.
‘He has overhauled my game. I am a different player now compared to two years ago and that is all down to him.
‘I have so much trust in him. That’s not to say I don’t occasionally disagree with what he says.
‘But we have such a discursive relationship and so much respect for each other. Long may it continue.’