Kirsty Gilmour got what will be a crucial year in her bid to become an Olympian underway in the best possible fashion yesterday when she successfully defended her Swedish Masters title in Uppsala.
The 21-year-old, who has long been Britain's top badminton singles player, has seen her world ranking drop 10 places from her peak of 16th last summer, as a result of a fallow competitive period since her disappointing semi-final exit at the Scottish Open when she had gone into her home tournament as top seed.
That consequently meant she was only second seed in Sweden this time around, behind Beatriz Corrales whom she met in yesterday's final having beaten and lost to the Spaniard in their two previous meetings.
She gained the upper hand at the end of a close fought opening set, responding to a three point run by Corrales, which had levelled things, with three in succession of her own to take it.
After slipping 3-1 behind in the second she took nine of the next 11 points to take complete control, cruising to a 21-18, 21-9 win in 37 minutes.
It was the second time in her career that Gilmour has successfully defended an international title, having done so at the Czech International in 2013.
However doing so by re-asserting her superiority over a player with whom she has along with Corrales' fellow Spaniard Carolina Marin, the current world champion, been developing a friendly rivalry, was telling as Gilmour returned to action following a long lay-off at the start of the year in which the 12 month qualifying race for Olympic qualification will get underway in May.
That was partly to help shake off a niggling wrist injury, as well as to recover from a punishing schedule in the build-up to last year's Commonwealth Games and having looked hugely impressive in the second set of the final in particular, she indicated that she is now raring to go once again.
"This is a fantastically run tournament and it is very nice to win this trophy again," said Gilmour.
"I've come out of it feeling confident, particularly because I won all my games comfortably in two sets.
"Physically I feel a little tired, but great."
Gilmour will be back in action in front of a home audience again later this month when she is odds on favourite to win a fourth successive singles title at the Scottish Championships in Perth.
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