SCOTTISH INT’L – Bankier flies flag for Scotland

After the success of Susan Egelstaff in 2009 it was the turn of Imogen Bankier to command the top set of the podium at the 2010 Scottish International as she claimed her maiden gold with her new mixed doubles partner Chris Adcock.

By Mark Phelan.  Photos: Sven Heise for Badmintonphoto (Live)

Much of the focus and many of the pre tournament headlines and press releases understandably focused on Egelstaff and her attempt to win back to back titles at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall. And the darling of Scottish badminton went a long way to achieving the dream but fell short at semi final stage in a two set defeat to eventual winner Tatyana Bibik of Russia (pictured right). The Russian displayed guts and guile as she defeated the inform English number 1 and recent Commonwealth bronze medallist Elizabeth Cann in 2 sets.

The stage was then set for another home grown talent to emerge from the pack and it duly came in the form of Imogen Bankier (pictured above) . The bubbly Scot, who has just recently formed a new mixed partnership with Chris Adcock of England, delighted the home support as the fledgling partnership didn’t even drop a set on their way to clinching the title and in any one set never dropped more than 15 points.

“This is a new partnership and we have appeared to hit the ground running. I won this title 3 years ago so it is great to come back and win it again. We now look forward to going to the Irish and Italian internationals and it is in our plans to also go to Malaysia and Korea in the new year if possible,” said Bankier after the Scottish victory.

In the men’s singles, it was a battle of the top two seeded players with the gold going the way of India’s top seed Anand Pawar as he defeated Ville Lang in a one-sided final.

Both doubles finals were all England affairs and number 1 seeded men’s doubles pair of Ellis and Mills prevented Chris Adcock of achieving the double as they took the title in the longest final of the day in three sets.

In the women’s doubles, it was Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White (pictured) that were triumphant as they saw off the stiff challenge of their closest rivals in team GB, Olver and Agathangelou to take the Scottish title of 2010.

Results: Bank of Scotland International Championships

Men’s singles: Anand Pawar (IND) bt Ville Lang (FIN) 21-9, 21-10
Women’s singles: Tatyana Bibik (RUS) bt Elizabeth Cann (ENG) 25-23, 21-12
Men’s doubles: Marcus Ellis & Peter Mills (ENG) bt Chris Adcock & Andrew Ellis (ENG) 21-19, 11-21, 21-15
Women’s doubles: Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White (ENG) bt Mariana Agathangelou & Heather Olver (ENG) 21-17, 21-17
Mixed doubles: Chris Adcock (ENG) & Imogen Bankier (SCO) bt Till Zander & Gitte Koehler (GER) 21-10, 21-12