Bowman: 2010 will be the making of me

SCOTTISH badminton ace Andrew Bowman admits the 2010 Commonwealth Games could be his best chance of showcasing his talent on the international stage and not the Olympics in 2012.

The 24-year-old, who has won the men's doubles title at the Scottish National Championships for the past two years, missed out on the plane to Beijing as Andrew Smith, Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark were selected.

And the former Bellshill Academy student admits making the grade for 2012 is a tough ask with competition for places set to intensify over the next four years.

"Beijing was always going to be a bit too early for me," conceded Bowman.

"So I'm focused on the next Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Delhi and then the London Olympics.

"But qualifying is so tough, because you need to finish in the top three of tournaments to get your world ranking up to make the top 16."

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But while Bowman knows he faces a fight to reach London he is confident of impressing on home soil and donning the Scottish vest during the 2014 Commonwealths in Glasgow.

"The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be brilliant," added Bowman - who trains full-time with the GB squad at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes.

"I will be coming to my peak by then and am confident about making the team.

"Home support certainly helps, as we saw when Scotland hosted the Sudirman Cup and the team did so well."

STEPHEN BOND