The TOTAL BWF Badminton World Championships are coming to Glasgow this August. Gemma Willman talks us through the female players to watch out for.

The seven-day tournament will welcome players from all around the world, and will include an abundance of female players who are no strangers to medals and titles.

Spain’s Carolina Marin will be leading the Women’s Singles competition at Glasgow. Marin is aiming to win a consecutive hat-trick of World Champion titles, having also won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making her the first European to do so. She also recently won gold at the European Championships for a third time, beating Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour in the Finals.

Marin will face threats from several opponents, including World No.4 P V Sindhu. Sindhu won the first ever badminton silver medal for India in Rio and is one of the only Women’s Singles players to have won a Superseries event this year, taking gold in the Indian Open event in February. Sindhu has won two bronze medals at previous World Championships; perhaps this is her year for gold?

Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon is a previous World Champion, having won the title in 2013 at just 18 years old, making her the youngest champion ever.  This year, she faced current World champ, Carolina Marin, at the YONEX All England tournament and won, going on to win silver. Could that be a hint of things to come?

Dutch pair Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl will also be after gold in the Women’s Doubles after winning silver at the last World Championships in 2015, and at the 2016 Olympics. The pair has gone from strength to strength since pairing up and recently won against World No.1 duo, Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, at the OUE Singapore Open.

Among the challengers from the home nations will be Scotland’s Team GB star Kirsty Gilmour. Kirsty has won Silver at Commonwealth and at the European Championships. Representing England will be fellow Team GB member Gabby Adcock, who plays Mixed Doubles with husband Chris. The pair won Gold at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which took place at Emirates Arena – the same venue for the upcoming World Championships.

All of these incredible women and more will be taking on the Worlds this August, so if you fancy seeing some girl power – make your way to www.glasgow2017.com and secure your seats today!

 

Please Note: all rankings were correct at time of publication

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