Martin Campbell, an Edinburgh 18-year-old, is all ready to step into a new arena. With his schooldays over, he is now fully committed to making his name as a top-class badminton player.

The exciting new challenge starts in earnest next month when he lines up as one of four badminton players in the Scottish team competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in India.

While he is proud to be among the 44 youngsters selected for the national side - "it's definitely going to be a great experience" - Martin won't be content unless he comes home with some extra baggage.

"My goal is to medal," he said with modest conviction. "I'm playing in both the singles and the doubles, with Angus Gilmour. It will be tough, but we've got a chance."

As for the Indian journey, it is sure to be a cultural eye-opener as well as a sporting trip to remember. "One of the English players has already been over there, and she said that to get to Pune we have to go through one of the biggest slums areas in Asia," Martin continued. 

"I know that the whole experience will be unforgettable. It's going to be great to take part in a multi-sports event and be part of the whole Scotland team."

Badminton is a family tradition in the Campbell family. Martin's younger brother, Michael, is a 16-year-old talent who competed for Scotland in last month's UK Schools' Games.

And both boys were introduced to the sport by their father, Colin, who played for Scotland at junior level.

Martin appreciates that the opportunities to make the grade at world level are now far greater than in his dad's days. "I left Firhill High School in the summer and now I'm now one of four new full-time players in Scotland. Angus, Paul Van Rietvelde and Gillian Sloan are the others," he said.

"I'm training four hours a day at the National Centre at Scotstoun with coaches Dan Travers and Diana Koleva, and we work on court and do a lot of work in the gym. I've already started flat hunting in Glasgow.

"Badminton in Scotland really is progressing at the moment. There are more young players coming through and a lot more money and funding. It means there is more competition for places, and that's good for everybody." 

Martin exhibited his exciting potential last year when he swept the board - singles, doubles and mixed - at the Under-17 Bank of Scotland Scottish Championships.

But now he's ready to step up even higher. "I really do think my game will improve a lot over the next year. I'll be able to focus purely on badminton and that will make a big difference."

In addition to the Commonwealth Youth Games, another looming goal will be this season's ending European Junior Championships.

By then, he hopes to have attracted the attention of the British selectors. "I've not really looked further than my first season as a full-time player. But it would be great to do well enough to get onto the GB funding programme," he added.

"I would love to make the 2010 Commonwealth Games team, and then there is the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealths in Glasgow. There's such a lot going on for our sport - it really is a time of huge opportunities."

EB
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