While home hero Kirsty Gilmour will be reasonably happy with her draw in the women’s singles Scottish number 1 men’s singles Kieran Merrilees was handed the stiffest of all opening round tests after drawing multiple World and Olympic champion Lin Dan of China, arguably the greatest men’s singles player of all time. 

Merrilees will of course relish the draw knowing that the Chinese superstar has probably seen better days on court. The Scot will also know that he will have the backing of the large home crowd who will do everything in their power to will their man over the line. It is a nothing to lose and everything to win game for Merrilees and the Scot will relish the challenge knowing that if he is to claim one of the biggest scalps in the history of the game the opening round with the entire Emirates Arena behind him is the time to do it. 

Another tasty opening round men’s singles tie is the battle of the European young guns where Anders Antonsen faces Fabian Roth. Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus faces a tough opening round against Tian Houwei of China. The Dane has a negative head to head record against the Chinese but Vittinghus will know the win is within him after several three set battles against the number 10 seed. 

Elsewhere European champion Rajiv Ouseph will have the opportunity to stretch his legs against Adam Mendrek of Czech Republic with a possible third round against Lin Dan the carrot for the Englishman.
 

To view complete men’s singles draw click HERE

Hat trick opportunity for Europe’s Queen of the courts

Reigning Olympic and World Champion Carolina Marin (pictured above) will look at today’s women’s singles draw as the ideal opportunity to write herself into the annals of European badminton folklore. Already one of the all time greats the Spanish superstar has a bye in round 1 as one of the top seeds. With most likely only YipPui Yin and Sayaka Sato likely to challenge her in the opening salvo’s, Marin will have a decent opportunity to settle into the tournament before the big guns come knocking at the business end of the tournament. 

The Spanish world number 3 has also won in the Emirates Arena before claiming the women’s singles title at the Scottish Open Grand Prix as far back as 2013. There are a handful of all European first round matches with Mia Blichfeldt taking on Fabienne Deprez and Fontaine Chapman up against Luise Heim. Line Kjaersfeldt plays Maria Ulitina however the winner of that match has the unfortunate draw of playing top seed Akane Yamaguchi in round two.

To view the complete women’s singles draw click HERE

A year on and fresh opportunities for Ellis and Langridge

What a year it has been for Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge. Olympic bronze followed by the devastating news of their funding cuts. The birth of twins for Langridge and marriage for Ellis has all served to make the past 12 months a year to remember for two of Europe’s most likable characters. 

The men’s doubles draw has also been kind to the English. A bye courtesy of the 14th seeding in round 1 followed by a second round match against the winners of the Austrian V Australia match, a match they should win comfortably. 

Goh & Tan will most likely lie in wait come round three but by then the English pair should know position of their own game and if things are flowing a medal is not out of reach for the English pair. 

Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen are seeded two for the championships and a world gold is a major priority for the European Champions. A host of potential Asian banana skin matches await the Danes and with the hottest ticket on the planet in the shape of Gideon and Sukamuljo in the Danes half of the draw, the route to gold is a tricky one. 

Home boys Campbell & MacHugh have an all European opening round clash against Jille and Arends of The Netherlands and the Scottish while underdogs will fancy their chances in that match while Daugaard and Christiansen will look invitingly at their draw and the solace that they have won twice in this arena in 2014 and 2016. 

For the full men’s doubles draw click HERE

Juhl & Pedersen against the rest

As second seeds Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen holds all the European keys in the women’s doubles draw. The Danes should ease to the quarter finals where a potential European final re match against the Stoeva sisters awaits. That is of course if the Bulgarians have the game to take down 7th seeds Tanaka and Yonemoto en route. 

The home crowd will also feel a real opportunity for some early round home success as Eleanor O’ Donnell and Julie Macpherson (pictured above) benefit from the draw gods. The Scots have an opening round match against Fankhauser and Saniru which is a match both they and the expectant home fans will feel they can win. 

For the complete women’s doubles draw click HERE

Adcock’s poised to take on the world

European champions Chris & Gabby Adcock (pictured above winning their European crown) will benefit from the short trip across the border as they attempt to add world glory to their European success just a few short months ago. Same time zone and only a few hours up the road is one of these marginal gains that can act as a catalyst to success. 

The world number 5 pair also head into the tournament as Europe’s top seeds and will fancy their chances after being handed a reasonable draw in the early round in Glasgow. 

Guaranteed European opponents in round two after a bye will suit the English as they head into a potential third round clash against Kazuno and Kurihara of Japan. However, to win a medal the Adcock’s will have to get by top seeds Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen of China. Difficult by not a lost cause if the Adcock’s can bring that Euro winning form to Glasgow.

Like the Adcock’s Fischer & Pedersen are guaranteed a European pair in round two after their round one bye. Lamsfuss and Herttrich the likely opponents who have, on their day, the abilities to really hurt the Danes. 

For the complete mixed doubles draw click HERE

Speaking at today's live draw BWF President Poul Erik Hoyer had this to say about the competitions

“Badminton has come a long way from the days when only a few nations dominated the sport. Today the spread of medal prospects is wider than ever before and spectator interest is at an all-time high… Our appreciation goes to everybody who has been with us on this journey,”

All the action kicks off in Glasgow on the 20th of August and Badminton Europe will be on hand bringing you daily content via our social media channels for the entire weeks play.