Kirsty Gilmour will make long-awaited return to action by starting her bid to complete her set of national titles when the Scottish Badminton Championships get underway tonight.

The British No. 1 singles player, who has not competed on court since the Olympics, having undergone knee surgery following her trip to Rio de Janeiro, is looking to collect a sixth successive Scottish singles title in Perth.

Having joined HeraldSport as a columnist during this season’s Scottish Open Grand Prix, Gilmour re-joins us to explain how ready she is feeling to make her comeback:

I love a to-do list. Sometimes I put, “write a to-do list” on my to-do list because I’m a sucker for running that single line through the middle of the letters in a triumphant flick of the wrist.

The thing about lists is that whether we realise it or not, it is an example of everyday goal-setting. They give us purpose, direction and a final destination.

Four months ago I found myself with a new to-do list. One I’ve never really encountered before. Instead of it reading the usual, “buy milk, car MOT, call mum” (exciting life, I know!), the first thing on my to-do list was “tackle stairs one at a time”.

After my knee operation in October, I was back at square one. Despite walking out of the hospital without crutches, it took me around 2 weeks to be able to bend my knee to 90degrees. And I could forget any sort of exercise involving putting load through the joint for at least six weeks. In those first few weeks I procured a fine set of biceps and a cracking left quad. Then week 7 rolled around and the fun began. Not only had I checked off “use both legs on a bike”, but there I was running! And by running I mean plodding on a space-age treadmill that allows me to sort of levitate as my feet gently dab the surface. But I’ll take any excuse to cross something off my list and that was good enough for me.

Now here I am. Seventeen weeks post-op and post-the best nap of my life, thanks anaesthesia! Last week I checked off “move on a full court”. This week I get to cross off a big one; play a tournament. This will be my 8th year of playing the Scottish National Championships and I will be looking towards my 6th consecutive singles title. Granted, I’m going into the event with a little more trepidation than previous years but honestly, I’m just happy to be here. The young emerging talent will no doubt be out for blood but I’ll have my wits about me, I’ve never been one to shy away from a scrap on court.

This will be my first tournament since the Olympic Games in Rio and I couldn’t think of a better place to start.

Next on the list is the Austrian International Challenge and there will be a good few more to tick off before a little tournament coming to Glasgow in August... the World Championships.