BADMINTONscotland National Junior Squad held its first summer camp in the Cockburn Centre this month.

Players ranging from 8 years to 15 years came to the Cockburn Centre for training during the day where they were joined by national players from Italy.

To add to the excitement of the day, national coaches joined the players for intensive training and specialised drills.

Senior players - who are part of Team Scotland at the 2014 Games joined in for a few hours. The Junior Squad were thrilled by their presence and commented on what a great ‘experience’ it was having them there.

A huge thank you to Imogen Bankier and Kirsty Gilmour who took time out from their preparations for the Commonwealth Games. They also allowed additional time for questions.

We wish Team Scotland all the best at the Games.

Overall - a great week and great effort by all.

KIRSTY GILMOUR and the Scotland team received an unexpected Commonwealth Games boost today when India's defending women’s singles champion Saina Nehwal pulled out of Glasgow 2014.

Nehwal was expected to be named top seed going into Monday’s team and individual draw.

But the world No. 7 pulled out today, citing fitness issues. She is the second hot favourite to pull out after Malaysia’s two-time Commonwealth men's singles champion and world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei forced to withdraw from the Games with a thigh injury.

Nehwal’s absence means world No. 17 Gilmour will be the second highest ranked women’s singles player behind India’s world No. 11 P. V. Sindhu. The two players have met once with Gilmour winning in three games in the second round of last year’s French Open Superseries.