Kirsty Gilmour will begin her bid to be crowned UK School Games badminton champion this week as she leads a strong Scotland squad to South Wales.

The Bothwell 15-year-old was the runner-up 12 months ago but arrives at the annual multi-sport event in the form of her life having just won the singles title at the Langenfeld Cup in Germany.

Gilmour is also the reigning Bank of Scotland National U17 and U19 singles champion as well as one half of the doubles winners from a year ago, when she won the title alongside Kirsty McGlynn.

But first Scotland will tackle the team event on Friday at Cardiff's Welsh Institute of Sport before the 12-strong squad contest the individual events over the weekend.

All the girls in the squad were among those who played last year but only Matthew Carder and Gregor McVean were in last year's boys' line-up.

Two years ago in Coventry Scotland won one silver and three bronze. Last year in Bristol Scotland won a gold, two silver and a bronze.

Scotland squad:- Boys: Matthew Carder (South Queensferry), Edward Cogliano (Edinburgh), Bruce Doran (Glasgow), Stewart Ferns (Dingwall), Lewis Gallacher (Kilmarnock), Gregor McVean (Mauchline)

Girls: Emma Cook (Mauchline), Emma Gallacher (Wishaw), Kirsty Gilmour (Bothwell), Robyn Glen (Erskine), Caitlin Pringle (Glasgow), Shereen Spittal (Mauchline)