Emma Mason has discovered that dark clouds really do have silver linings. After a year of misery and doubt, the 22-year-old Scottish badminton star is suddenly looking forward to a very bright future. 

It was last March that Emma, a former European No.1 in doubles with Imogen Bankier, suffered a real body blow when she ruptured her left Achilles in an accident on the training court.  The result? Months in plaster followed by many more in rehabilitation. 

After gloom and doom, the first tentative steps back came at the Yonex Scottish National Championships in February. Twelve months on from the excruciating injury, she suddenly has plenty cause for celebration. 

Emma has been named in Scotland’s nine-strong team for the Sudirman Cup (world team championships) in China in May – and has also been added to the GB Funding Programme based at the National Centre at Milton Keynes. 

“I really can’t explain how happy I feel to be back in the Scotland team for the Sudirman Cup,” said Emma. “I really wanted it so much. It’s been such a long road, but the last three months have been more positive. Now I feel there are really good things to come.”

At a time when Scots Andy Bowman, Gordon Thomson and Thomas Bethell have all been dropped from the GB set-up, Emma has been granted a massive opportunity.

“I’ve still got two more years before I complete my degree at Glasgow University, but I’m going to take at least a year out and be a full-time badminton player,” she said. “I’ve never trained at Milton Keynes and I’m very excited to get down there and see how much I can improve.”

As for her maths and chemistry degree, it has not been abandoned, just put on hold. “Glasgow University has been really good and very flexible,” she said. “I’ve been told that I’ll be welcome to come back whenever I’m ready.”

Dan Travers, Scotland’s High Performance Director at the Scottish Institute of Sport, is delighted that Emma is back in the mix, particularly as he puts his plans together for next year’s Commonwealth Games in India.

“It was a career threatening injury and she has done so well to battle her way back,” said the former Commonwealth Games doubles champion. “Emma is very committed and she could make it right to the top. It’s now all about getting the confidence back.

The Sudirman Cup, in Guangzhou from May 10-17, will be the start of Emma’s top-level recuperation. The Scottish squad will be heading to China at the end of April for a pre-tournament training squad.

Next year, Emma’s main goal will be the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi – and then there is fantastic double of the 2012 Olympic Games in London followed by the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.  

“There is a lot to look forward to over the next few years,” said the Edinburgh-based player. “I’m lucky to be involved in British sport at such an exciting time. The one good thing about the injury is that it made me realise how much I really do love badminton. I’ve been given the chance, and I want to take it.”

EB
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