SHE’S the niece of one of Scotland’s greatest badminton players but history-maker Brooke Stalker proved recently she’s ready to carve her own name out in the sport.

The talented 11-year-old, whose uncle is the late Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Russell Hogg, became the first player to win a Scottish national under-11 singles title two years running over the weekend of May 13-14 by beating Edinburgh’s Vinha Raman 21-6 in the final.

In addition Brooke – a Primary 7 pupil at McLean Primary – teamed-up with partner Katrina Chan to retain her doubles title in what has been a hugely successful 2017.

She also competed in the under-13 event in March and, despite playing against older opponents, won the girls’ doubles and reached the semi-finals of the singles, where she was beaten by the eventual winner.

Brooke went on to represent Scotland in Belgium, where she reached three quarter-finals, and became the first Fife winner of the Scottish Schools singles title since Fiona Sneddon in 1993, as well as winning doubles bronze with Natalie Tonner.

It has been quite a journey since she hit her first shuttlecock at just six-years-old but, speaking to Press Sport along with proud mum Karen, she hopes to become the family’s next international court star.

Brooke said: “He (Russell) got 144 caps (for Scotland) so I’m aiming for 300! I’d love to play for Scotland and I’d like to play in the Commonwealths but I’d rather play for Britain because people know you more when you do that.

“It felt good (to win the national title two years running) and I feel happy but I don’t like showing my emotion; I’m quite stern on court! We’ve all become friends and no-one falls out after.”

Becoming a Scottish champion at under-13 level was another highlight for the youngster, who continued: “I’ve always played at under-11s but we were really pleased we won the under-13 doubles. I started when I was eight and Keryn (Swan, doubles partner) and me have always played together. We normally lose so to win was really good.

“I’d love to play at the Olympics but that’s ages away. I want to do the under-15 quad (quadrangular tournament featuring Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland) and the European under-17s in three years.”

Karen, who is also a national coach, added: “Russell would be really proud. She started when she was three by knocking balloons about; they were everywhere! When we played, Brooke would sit at the side of the court and waited to have a hit with Russell, and that got her started.

“She spends three days a week with the national programme but still trains and competes in the local events and ladders, which she loves to do. She commits a lot of time and dedication but she’s made lots of good friends and is so concentrated and focused for someone so young. She handles it well.

“To be the first to win the under-11 singles twice in a row – not even in the boys has that happened – was a great achievement.”