GLASGOW'S Kieran Merrilees, who defends his Yonex Scottish National men's singles title in Perth early next month, has battled through to the main draw at the Swedish International in Stockholm.

In yesterday's qualifying rounds Glasgow's Merrilees had to win three matches, starting with a 22-20 21-13 victory over Mikael Westerback. He followed that by beating a second Swede in Victor Zuhr but it was a much harder battle before he won 21-9 16-21 21-15.

In his qualifying final Merrilees came out on top against Kasper Lehikoinen of Finland. But against it was close, with the Scot winning 22-20 21-17. Later today he faces eighth-seeded Dutchman Eric Pang in the first round.

Bothwell's Kirsty Gilmour had a first-round walkover in the qualifying before losing her decider 21-16 21-14 against Denmark's Lene Clausen.

In the mixed doubles Glasgow's Imogen Bankier and England's Chris Adcock are top seeds and, like second seeds and GB rivals Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork, they begin with a first-round bye.

Adcock and Bankier remain at No. 14 in the latest world rankings but Robertson and Wallwork have leapfrogged Scotland's Robert Blair and England's Gabby White to stand at No. 22. Blair and White have slipped five places to No. 26 after last year's Malaysian Open semi-final rankings points dropped off this week. They are not playing mixed doubles in Stockholm.

In the women's doubles in Stockholm Gilmour and Edinburgh's Jillie Cooper take on last week's Estonian runners-up Ilse Vaessen and Samantha Barning of Holland in the first round with fourth seeds Wallwork and White awaiting the winners.

In the men's doubles Longniddry's Paul van Rietvelde and Yorkshireman Marcus Ellis tackle Andreas Heinz and Max Schwenger of Germany in their first tournament together.

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