The Edinburgh pair of Emma Mason and Jillie Cooper both heaved a sigh of relief when Scotland got the go-ahead for this month’s Commonwealth Games – and both are already looking forward to making Delhi a stepping-stone to success in Glasgow 2014.  

Mason resurrected her women’s doubles partnership with Glasgow’s Imogen Bankier last year, and the former No.1 pair on the European circuit could be dark horses among the medal challengers in India.  

“We have both been plagued by injury so we don’t have many ranking points,” Mason pointed out. “But I’m pretty confident that we can do well. We beat a seeded pair at the world championships in Paris in August so, if we can hit that form again, then we must have a chance of a medal.” 

Following the pre-Games shambles over preparations in Delhi, the 24-year-old continued: “I would have hated for Scotland to pull out. I was unlucky to miss out in 2006 when Scotland didn’t send a team to Melbourne. It would also have been terrible for the future of the Games, and for Glasgow hosting them in 2014.  

“I’m already looking forward to Glasgow – it should be great playing in front of a home crowd. But Delhi will also be a great experience. It will be my first multi-sport event and a chance to mix with such a variety of athletes.  

“Ever since I started my comeback last year after I ruptured my Achilles (she spent almost a year on the sidelines) the Commonwealth Games in Delhi have been my focus. It would have been devastating if we hadn’t gone. But now I’m just looking forward to the competition.” 

Cooper will be competing in the mixed doubles with Longniddry teenager, Paul van Rietvelde, and with 17-year-old Kirsty Gilmour – who has been chosen specifically with Glasgow 2014 in mind - in the women’s doubles. 

“I’m so excited about everything this month,” said the 22-year-oldm who shot to fame when she won the Bank of Scotland Scottish International women’s doubles title two years ago. “I’m really looking forward to paying with Paul in the mixed.   

“It is going to be a great experience. He is a super young player, and I think we could build the partnership and be real medal contenders in Glasgow next time.” 

In the team event in Delhi, Scotland has been drawn alongside hosts India, Kenya, Wales and Barbados – with the top two in each round-robin section going forward to the quarter-finals.  

“It’s a decent group,” suggested Mason. “India will be the favourites, and we’ve played them a few times without success. But they will have pressure as the home side.” 

Cooper reckons that Scottish badminton has a really bright future, and she added: “Delhi will be a massive opportunity. We have had a new coaching set up in Scotland with (China’s) Yvette Yun Luo joining us last January and John Quinn (a former French National coach) coming in at the end of the season.  

“John is a specialist doubles coach and it is making it a really exciting time for badminton in Scotland and Delhi could be very good for us all. It was a huge relief when it was confirmed that we would be taking part – I think probably a lot of the problems were blown out of proportion. 

”Now I’m just looking forward to taking part in a major Games and I’m certain the atmosphere will be fantastic. Badminton is a big sport in India and it will be great to be part of it all.” 

For Mason and Cooper, Delhi will be a Commonwealth Games debut. They both hope that Glasgow 2014 is an even bigger cause for celebration.

EB

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