A HISTORY-MAKING badminton player from Motherwell is heading to the Commonwealth Games this week.

Alex Dunn, who was one-half of the first Scottish doubles pair to play in a European final earlier this year, will represent Team Scotland at the Birmingham event.

The 23-year-old, who is the youngest male player to represent Scotland at a senior level, is sponsored by community retailer Scotmid, which provided help towards training costs and expenses.

Glasgow Times:

Alex, who won Scotland’s first doubles silver medal at the European Badminton Championships with his partner Adam Hall in April, made his Commonwealth Games debut at the Gold Coast Games in 2018.

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He said: “I’m really looking forward to representing my country and to put all my training and hard work into practice."

Alex feared his sporting career was over when he was told, aged just 13, he had type one diabetes, the variant of the condition that requires constant medical treatment rather than being controllable through dietary adjustments.

In an interview for the Glasgow Times during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, he said five-time Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave, who also had diabetes, was an inspiration.   

“I would love to think I could inspire other young people because if they are tempted to give up when they get a diagnosis like I did then I can see where they’re coming from, so I would love to be able to help make a change in their lives,” he added.

Alex and Adam, who is from Ayrshire, reached the final of the Polish Open in their first competition together and went on to pick up a hat-trick of international titles in Ireland, Turkey and Iceland, as well as becoming Scottish champions.

Now, Alex - who also studies design - is hoping to win a medal in Birmingham.

“The continued support from Scotmid is hugely valued and appreciated," he said.

"Their sponsorship has really helped me to focus and prepare for the event, enabling me to be in the best possible condition and position to hopefully bring home a medal.”

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 will take place between July 28 and August 8.

Shirley MacGillivray, head of membership and communities at Scotmid, said: “We are so delighted to continue our sponsorship with Alex.

"As a community retailer, we continually look for ways we can provide support that will help make a difference. Alex is helping us to promote badminton as an inclusive and accessible sport.

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“Alex has already achieved so much, and we wish him all the very best of luck at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. I know we will be glued to our screens when he plays and supporting him every step of the way.”