Fast rising stars Jillie Cooper and Kieran Merrilees are among a group of Scots set to enjoy a pre-Christmas boost of working alongside a large squad of Chinese players. 

The visit has been arranged by Rita Yuan Gao – the Chinese-born Scottish internationalist – and is geared towards getting Scotland’s top players in shape for the European Championships in Liverpool in February.

A return trip to China will take place before the Sudirman Cup (world team championships) in Guangzhou in May. 

“Eleven Chinese players arrived in Scotland this week and they will be staying for ten days,” said Dan Travers, Scotland’s Director of High Performance.  “It is a great opportunity for all our players to mix with the very best and get ready for 2009.

”There will be daily sessions at the National Centre at Scotstoun and it will be hard work. The squad will be on court at eight in the morning and won’t be leaving until late into the afternoon.”

Commonwealth Games medallist Susan Hughes and the majority of the Scottish Institute of Sport players connected with the GB squad, including Cooper, Merrilees, Andy Bowman and Gordon Thomson, will benefit from the innovative initiative. 

Scotland has been drawn alongside Wales and the Czech Republic for the European Championships from February 10-15 and will be aiming to improve on this year’s ninth place.

Cooper, who has won the Bank of Scotland Scottish and Welsh International doubles titles in recent weeks, and 19-year-old Merrilees have already shown they have very bright futures in the sport.