Kirsty Gilmour gets European silver

Kirsty (22), shone at La Roche sur Yon in France, scooping a silver medal after losing 21-12, 21-18 to Spain’s Carolina Marin in the women’s singles final on Sunday after a stunning run of victories.

Kirsty, a silver medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, said: “It’s very satisfying to win silver.

“Definitely one for the CV but it’s the second time it could have been gold at a major championships following the Commonwealth Games. But everything at this age is a learning curve.

“Caro is the same age but has a lot more experience at the top level. It’s building blocks but we’ll get there one day.

“Today’s a day for celebrating and tomorrow we’ll feel the lull but at least I will wake up and say ‘yeah, I’ve got a silver medal at the European Championships’ which is pretty cool.

“It will be an evaluation day of a decent match, not perhaps my best but certainly not my worst by any means.

“I will learn from anyone who is world class standard. Every game you go on is a learning curve.”

Gilmour started slowly against defending champion Marin, who took control of the first game despite a protective strapping on her left shoulder after feeling it in the semi-final.

From 4-4 the Spaniard eased away to take it 21-12.

Gilmour was far more competitive in the first half of the second game, recovering from 5-1 down to lead 11-9 at the interval.

But Marin then reeled off six points in a row to take a commanding lead. Gilmour never gives up and closed the gap to 15-14 but Marin was never going to let her title slip.

Gilmour said: “The first set I know she comes out a million miles an hour so I was just sizing up my shots and adjusting to the pace. It took me a little bit too long to get to the pace of it.”