Kirsty picked in GB Olympic squad

The Commonwealth Games and European Championships silver medallist joins seven England players in the squad to compete in the badminton tournament at the Games from August 11-20.

The 22-year-old, who has climbed to a career-best No. 15 in the world rankings under the guidance of coach Chris Bruil, said: “When I get to Rio I don’t just want to turn up and participate.

“I want to go out there really strong and compete with the big guns, I really want to challenge them and push them.

“It’s a major event so anything can happen so I will be looking to put in good performances and with good performances there could be big wins in there.”

Gilmour becomes the third Scotland player to represent GB in women’s singles following Anne Robertson in Atlanta in 1996 and Susan Egelstaff at London 2012 when she and mixed doubles star Imogen Bankier formed half of the four-strong GB squad along with Ouseph and Bankier’s world silver medal winning partner Adcock.

As for playing in the Olympic Games she added: “It’s something I have been striving towards since I was a kid.

“To be here and for me to have actually achieved it, it feels really great.”

Kirsty goes to Rio as the second highest ranked European in women’s singles behind Spain’s double World and double European champion Carolina Marin and her rise up the world rankings should be good enough to earn her a seeding.

But nothing is being left to chance with regards to preparations over the last few weeks before the Games.

She said: “I have a few training camps around Britain and Europe, which I am quite excited about.

“So it’s all about good training and preparation just now.”