There is almost the sense that an era is ending for Scottish badminton as the national team heads to Leuven in Belgium for this week's European Team Championships.

Having been among those who showed greatest commitment to the cause for the Commonwealth Games, with Imogen Bankier and Kirsty Gilmour in particular withdrawing from the heavily funded British programme to concentrate upon that event, the Scottish sport's big three, which also includes Robert Blair, have had some serious thinking to do.

Now 33 Blair has admitted that retirement is looming. Meanwhile at just 27, at the height of her powers as perhaps the country's greatest ever player having won a World Championship silver medal as well as competing in an Olympic Games and, with Blair, winning Commonwealth bronze, Bankier recently revealed that she is to take a six month break following this week's event as she looks towards life after badminton and the prospect of developing a business career.

That is partly down to being a doubles specialist and her need to identify partners of the right calibre, a problem that does not afflict the third and youngest of Scotland's trio of Commonwealth Games medallists, which is why Gilmour faces considerable responsibility this week and thereafter.

Her growing status in the sport having been demonstrated towards the end of last year when, along with Bankier and Blair, she was invited to represent Europe in a prestigious and lucrative million dollar international team event in Malaysia and Thailand, Gilmour has already set new standards for Scottish players in singles by becoming the first to reach a Commonwealth Games final, while she reached No.16 in the world rankings towards the end of last summer.

One of three 21-year-old women representing Scotland this week she is by far the most experienced and, having last week won the national singles title for what is already the fourth time, is having to become used to the spotlight, albeit she still admits that: "People under-estimate how difficult it still is to come to an event and get the wins under your belt."

That, though, is excellent preparation for what will confront her over the next 18 months or so as she seeks to protect her position as British number one.

"It comes with confidence and pressure," Gilmour observed.

"It gives you the confidence, but you know everyone's nipping at your heels, especially at the nationals where all the youngsters obviously really want to win."

As things stand her there is no obvious threat since her closest British rival is Fontaine Mica Chapman, a 25-year-old who is currently more than 40 places below her in the world rankings, but Gilmour's own rise was a swift one so she knows that other challenges may emerge and that she must be ready.

"You never know what might happen," Gilmour acknowledged.

"I can really only concentrate on myself. I haven't come up against any of the English girls but when I do I'll just have to really concentrate and prove that my level is where it should be. I've got a nice gap just now, but they could get some great results and it would be all to play for. So everything can change, but I'm quite confident about my position right now."

Gilmour admits that even with a more obvious career path in front of her than her fellow Scottish medallists, it was something of a shock to the system when something they had devoted so much emotional energy towards for so long was over.

"After the Commonwealths everyone was a bit: 'Oh, I don't know what to do now.' We thought the world would end after the Commonwealth Games... apparently it didn't," she joked.

"There was another day after that, but it's nice to have another goal that's not too far in the future now."

It could hardly be more enticing either.

"Rio's always been a goal, but we can almost smell it now," said Gilmour.

"It's actually feasible to aim for. So qualifying starts in May and we're building up to that, but also everything I do now counts this time next year which will still be within Olympic qualifying, so it's still quite important even now."

Even ahead of that year long qualifying window it is vital that Gilmour maintains the necessary standards to capitalise on the position she is in.

"Retaining my title at the Swedish Masters (last month) was quite important to retaining those ranking points so that I will still be in the main draws for Super Series and things," she pointed out.

"If not I would have had to go through qualifying which isn't ideal. Needs must and everything, of course, but I was teetering on the edge at 27 so I'm a bit safer now."

After another week in team international team mode, then, starting with Wednesday's meeting with Spain with whom she has a particular rivalry having won last year's Spanish Open title, beating home favourite Carolina Marin, who went on to win the World Championships last year, in the final, Gilmour will largely be going it alone at top level, at least until what is a promising group of Scottish teenagers steps up.

"After the European Teams we've got some club matches (in France) and then the classic German (Open), All England, Swiss (Open) trio which will be tough. It's always tough," she said.

All the evidence so far suggests she will continue to cope, however.