Pollock ready for double date after injury anguish

ELEVEN months ago, Longniddry badminton player Craig Pollock feared his dream of playing for Scotland in a major event had been quashed by injury.

But the 16-year-old is now looking forward to a great double-header, starting with this weekend's UK Schools' Games in Bristol. Next month, he will enjoy an even more exotic trip when he lines up for his country in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in India.

The Commonwealth selection really is an amazing turnaround for the teenager.

"I was at a training session last October when one of the selectors told me that I was going to be training towards the chance of making the Youth Games team," he explained.

"I then went back on court for one more game and promptly tore the cartilage in my right knee. I was gutted and it kept me out until Christmas. Even when I started to play again, I was very nervous about the injury. I really had lost a lot of confidence, so to be back and get picked to play for Scotland in two major multi-sports events is amazing. It really does show the highs and lows of sport."

At this weekend's Schools' event, Craig faces a hectic programme of singles, doubles and mixed – and he has high hopes of returning home with a medal.

"I'm hoping to do especially well in the doubles and mixed," he said. "They're the events I'm really going to concentrate on in the future. There are 16 Scottish badminton players in the team and it will be nice to mix with people from different sports. I think the whole team should do well."

In the boys' doubles, he teams up with Edinburgh's Michael Campbell, while Greenock's Kirsty McGlynn is his partner on the mixed court.

Craig, who is in his final year at Preston Lodge High School, is one of just four Scottish badminton players in the team for Pune along with Michael's older brother, Martin Campbell (Edinburgh), Angus Gilmour (Troon) and his Longniddry pal Paul Van Rietvelde.