Scotland: The former Chinese internationalist Yvette Yun Luo who has been in charge of the Scots since 2009 helping them to win a record two medals at the Commonwealth Games, Kirsty Gilmour’s silver in women’s singles and a bronze for Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair in mixed doubles, plus various titles and medals at other events.
Since Yun Luo’s arrival, nine separate Scotland players have won international titles while in 2011 Imogen Bankier, in partnership with England’s Chris Adcock, won a mixed doubles silver medal at the World Championships in Wembley and Kirsty Gilmour won a women’s singles bronze medal at that year’s Commonwealth Youth Games the same year, launching her rise to prominence.
After her resignation announcement on Sunday, Yun Luo said she was proud of the way she had changed Scottish badminton.
“Looking back over the last five years, I am proud of the two positive influences I have had,” she said.
“One is the increased work ethic of the squad members as reflected by the healthy training atmosphere in training at Scotstoun and the other is the way my badminton knowledge has influenced the support we receive from the Scottish Institute of Sport.
“All in all, I have enjoyed working with the players in a challenging way over the last five years.”
Her contribution drew a warm tribute from Chief Executive of Badminton Scotland Anne Smillie who said: “Obviously, we will be sorry to see Yvette leave us. She has been the best and most successful coach Scotland has ever had.
“She will be a hard act to follow and she will leave us in June with a heartfelt thank you.
“We wish her every success wherever the future takes her,” she added.
