Kirsty Gilmour calls for greater LGBTQ acceptance in Asia ahead of world championships

Kirsty Gilmour urged greater acceptance of LGBTQ people in Asia while speaking in New Delhi on Saturday (August 15, 2026) ahead of the world badminton championships.

The 32-year-old, who came out as gay in 2021 and has publicly advocated for inclusivity in sport, told reporters she hopes to see broader progress across the region. "I would really love to see that actually," Gilmour said in response to an AFP question, adding that Asia is badminton's heartland, producing many of the sport's leading players, but openly gay athletes remain relatively rare.

Gilmour and another Scotland team member who is part of the LGBTQ community noted their hotel in New Delhi displayed prominent pride symbols. "The hotel that we're staying at has a massive LGBTQ elephant in the lobby and all the staff wear LGBTQ flag pins," she said. "To most people that stay in the hotel that would just maybe not really register or not be that important." "But for me... it's just a little comfort to us to know that we're not going to be treated any differently."

She arrived in India on the back of the biggest title of her career, claiming the European championship in April by defeating Denmark's Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt 21-17, 21-15 to become Scotland's first European women's singles champion. The victory broke a run of near-misses for the Olympian and represented a clear career high.

That breakthrough followed several runner-up finishes at the continental level and an earlier podium at the Commonwealth Games. "I think I've spent a lot of my career being defined by silver medals, and nearly, and almost," she said. "But I think it's really nice to have something on my CV that is definitive, and I can just say that I'm European champion."

Gilmour also reflected on the significance of the title for Scottish badminton and grassroots participation. She noted Scotland's population "of about 5.5 million" and said: "We're a very small population, so for us it's a real numbers game," pointing to initiatives aimed at growing the sport. "My European title win might be the springboard to something bigger for Scottish badminton," she said.

She made the remarks after a training session at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium; the world badminton championships begin on Monday (August 17, 2026).