Kirsty Gilmour will go for glory at next week’s Scottish Open Badminton Grand Prix – and she aims to repeat the performance at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the country’s hottest badminton prospects, winning the Czech International and reaching the final of the London Grand Prix Gold already this season, putting her firmly in contention for a starring role at Glasgow 2014.

The Games badminton event will be held at the Emirates Arena in eight months’ time, but Gilmour is currently focused on the Scottish Open, which is being staged at the same venue over five days next week from Wednesday, November 20. Gilmour is one of six seeded Scottish athletes who will take on competitors from all over the world in front of a roaring home crowd.

Gilmour, from Bothwell, said: “I’m delighted with the progress I’ve made in 2013. To qualify for Glasgow 2014 you have to be in the top 50 for at least four weeks. I will qualify quite comfortably but to have a real chance of a medal I’ll have to work hard.

“I’ve played so many tournaments this year that I never had the opportunity to train properly until the end of September. But I’m currently training a few days a week at Scotstoun badminton academy ahead of the Scottish Open Grand Prix.

“It will be nice to play in front of a home crowd – and it will be great to be able to go home between matches and sleep in my own bed! I’ll be looking to build on my recent good performance at the London Grand Prix and I’m hoping the home crowd in Glasgow will help me do just that.

“I’m seeded second for the tournament and it’s always nice if you manage to achieve your seeding, but there are a lot of tough games before that so I won’t be complacent at all.”

As well as being second seed in the women’s singles event, Gilmour is also seeded to reach the final of the women’s doubles with Jillie Cooper.

The Scottish Open starts on Wednesday 20 November with qualifying rounds in four events, plus 32 matches in the men’s singles first round.

You can follow Kirsty on Twitter @KirstyGilmourr

Photo Credit: Badminton Scotland