Inverness Royal Academy pupil Abigail Barrie is selected to play badminton for Scotland against England, Wales and Ireland in Dublin
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
TEENAGER Abigail Barrie has been called up to the Scotland squad to compete at the 2022 Under-15 Quadrangular in Ireland later this month.
The Inverness City Badminton Club player’s call-up comes after she achieved success with her older sister Sophie to be crowned senior doubles champions at the Scottish Secondary Schools Tournament in Edinburgh.
Abigail (13) a second year pupil at Inverness Royal Academy, will make her debut for her country when she competes against England, Ireland and Wales in Dublin in individual and team events.
After impressing selectors at tournaments in Glasgow and Perth, Abigail is looking forward to testing herself on the international stage.
“The call-up came as a big surprise to me,” admitted Abigail.
“I haven’t been called up to the Scotland squad before.
“I knew that selectors were looking at how players performed at certain tournaments and looking at how far they were able to get.”
Abigail first started playing badminton when she was seven-years-old.
Her father David, is also the founder of Inverness City Badminton Club.
She says with her family being passionate about the sport, it was only natural she would go on to pick up the racket as well.
“I saw my sister playing badminton and my dad was running a club at primary school,” she said.
“It was something that I thought I would enjoy taking part in and it has carried on from there.”
Abigail says winning the senior doubles title at the Scottish Secondary Schools Tournament with her sister Sophie has also played a huge part in her being selected for the national squad.
Sophie, a fifth year pupil at Inverness Royal Academy, represented Scotland at the European Championships in Slovenia last September.
Abigail is pleased that she is following in her big sister’s footsteps and has been getting some advice on how to approach the tournament.
She said: “She has been telling me to stay relaxed and just enjoy it, but also try to remain focused during each match.”
Abigail says she doesn’t have any specific targets at the tournament and is honoured to be representing her country.
“I am just looking forward to the experience and playing a few games,” she said.
“Hopefully we will come first and I can come back with a medal.”
