“I took the opportunity. I’ve changed my training regime a bit and that’s helping with my confidence.

“Training with better players, I’m training with the top English and Scottish guys, has helped me in my game."

“One part for me is to be strong in my quads, so we’ve done a lot of work on my legs" - Scott Evans

Evans has also changed his weight training regime, working with Paul Byrne in Dublin. This change has also had a big effect on his performances.

He said: “I’ve been working with Paul for quite a while now. I started working with him before the Olympic's and we’ve continued working together since then.

“Paul has looked into badminton and what areas of the game we need to be strong in.

“One part for me is to be strong in my quads, so we’ve done a lot of work on my legs, going into the corners in badminton and getting out as quickly as possible.

“Also jumping high, and Paul has been helping me a huge amount with getting strong."

Looking forward, Evans has another few busy months of action.

“We’re going to Russia for our European Team Championships, where we’ve got a great chance of qualifying actually,” he said.

"We’re going to come up against France, Finland and Israel. They’re three teams we have a great chance of winning against and qualifying for the quarter-finals.

“After that I’ll have a training period and then the German Open, the All-Englands and the Swiss Open.”

Evans: We could make some surprises

Scott Evans is the biggest star of Irish badminton. After winning the Irish Open in December, the 25-year-old continued his good form on Sunday, as he won the 2013 Cyprus International beating England's Andrew Smith in two games. Two weeks before the 2013 European Mixed Team Championships will take place in Ramenskoe, the Irishman spoke exclusively to badmintoneurope.com. Read more

Scott Evans Wins Cyprus International title 

After winning the Irish Open in December 2012, Irish number one Scott Evans continued his good form on Sunday, as he won the 25th Li-Ning Winter Sun Cyprus International 2013 beating England’s Andrew Smith in straight sets 21-17 21-11.

The Dublin star had looked in great form as he has made his way to the final in Cyprus. Scott did not drop a set on his way to the title beating opposition from Cyprus, England, Ukraine and in the semi-final Germany’s Philip Discher whom he defeated 21-8 21-5 in only 17 minutes of play. Read more

RTE INTERVIEW - Click here to listen to Scott Evans Interview on his Cyprus International win

Scott Evans wins Irish Badminton Open

Ireland's top professional badminton player Scott Evans has won his first ever international tournament, the men’s Carlton Irish Open singles title. The Dubliner made the breakthrough on home turf, in Baldoyle, beating France's Lucas Corvee in straight sets. It took the Irish Olympian just 37 minutes to see off the French man's challenge, 21-19, 21-18.

However, Olympian Chloe Magee, also the top seed, was beaten in the women's final. Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt saw off the Donegal woman 23-21, 18-21, 21-18 in a contest that lasted just under an hour. Read more

Day One - Irish Open 2012 

Scott Evans comfortably won his opening round match at the Carlton Irish Badminton Open in Baldoyle this morning. Evans beat Maxime Michel 21-14, 21-11 in his opening round match. He plays qualifier Daniel Groom of England later this afternoon (17.30) for a place in tomorrow's quarter-finals.

Change as good as a rest for Evans 

Scott Evans hopes to build on his post-Olympics bounce when he returns home for the Carlton Irish Open this weekend. Evans, the top seed in the men’s draw, begins his singles quest against Maxime Michel of France later this morning (11.55am) while Irish badminton’s other Olympian, Chloe Magee, is also in action on day two in Baldoyle. Since losing to world number one Lin Dan in the first round in London, Evans has hit form and risen from 76th to 59th in the rankings. Read more

Evans top seeded on home soil 

For the first time ever, home players are the top seeds for both men and women's singles at the Carlton Irish Open, starting in Baldoyle Badminton Centre, Dublin on December 6. Scott Evans, top seed for the men's singles, will play Maxime Michel of France in his opening match and then either Flemming Quach of Denmark, or a qualifier who could turn out to be Ireland's Tony Stephenson. Should Evans progress, he could face Marcel Reuter of Germany in the quarter finals and Toby Penty of England in the semi-finals. Also in the top end of the draw is the dangerous Malaysian player Kuan Beng Hong, whom Evans will play in the opening round of the Welsh Open on Friday. Lukas Schmidt of Germany, the No 2 seed, could possibly face Irish player Josh Magee in his opening match, should Magee emerge from the qualifying tournament. Read more

Scott Evans through to the main tournament

Scott Evans from Ireland is through to the main tournament after winning his two qualification matches against danish Joachim Persson and Zulkiffli Zulfadli from Malaysia.

Scott who has been playing badminton in Denmark for seven years feels like playing on his home court here at Denmark Open.

I'll be back, vows plucky Scott as his luck runs out 

HE may be out of the Games, but it's definitely not the end of the world for one of our badminton heroes. Scott Evans was beaten by world number one Lin Dan, from China -- the 'Roger Federer' of badminton and regarded as the greatest player ever. But for Scott, who was once scouted by Manchester United, this is only the beginning of his career. "He is disappointed," his mother Cheryl told the Herald. "Lin Dan is an awesome player. I think he will take the gold. Scott was super and a great Irishman." Read more

Scott talks to RTE 2fm 

Olympic Badminton Draw - Scott Evans paired with favourite 

Ireland's Scott Evans has been paired with reigning champion and favourite Lin Dan of China in a two-man Group P in the Olympics men's badminton singles. The match-up could not have been tougher for world number 76 Evans with Lin, although seeded second to Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, widely regarded by as the greatest player of all time.

Group P: Lin Dan (2), China; Scott Evans, Ireland - Full draw available here.

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