SMASH-hit Beith badminton ace Eleanor O'Donnell is celebrating medal success in one of the sport's most prestigious junior competitions.

She teamed up with fellow 18-year-old Alex Dunn from Bellshill to line up in the mixed doubles event at last week's European Junior Championships in Mulhouse, France.

They reached Sunday's final, only to fall to Russian second seeds Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova 21-16, 21-14.

But the unseeded 18-year-olds can be well pleased with their silver medal after their run to the final included a 17-21 21-10 21-14 victory over the Slovenian fourth seeds Miha Ivancic and Petra Polanc in the second round and a nail-biting 19-21, 21-14, 22-20 win against Polish top seeds Pawel Smilowski and Magdalena Swiercynska in the semi-finals.

Dunn has now added a silver medal to the bronze he won with Mauchline's Adam Hall in the men's doubles in Lubin two years ago.

And O'Donnell can look forward with confidence as she prepares for the senior European Championships in Kolding, Denmark at the end of the month and prepares for her Scotland international debut at the Sudirman Cup in Australia's Gold Coast next month.

In the final, O'Donnell and Dunn were challenging up to 10-10 in the first game before the Russians applied the pressure to surge 17-11 ahead.

A strong start to the second game, where they swept into a 9-1 lead, put Alimov and Davletova in control and although Dunn and O'Donnell recovered from 15-6 down to within four points at 15-11, the Russians closed out the contest.

Coach Robert Blair said: "It's obviously a disappointing result, but should not be a damper on what has been a wonderful week for Alex and Eleanor. This should hopefully get them ready for similar success in senior badminton."

BADMINTONscotland Chief Executive Anne Smillie said: "Alex and Eleanor should be very proud of their achievements. They have produced some great wins to get to the final and thoroughly deserve their silver medal."