Dan Travers

Daniel Travers (born 16 June 1956) is a former badminton player and national coach for Scotland, who competed at the Commonwealth Games and won a medal at the European Championships.

Biography Travers was a bronze medalist at the 1981 World Games, losing out to Swedish pair in semifinals. Travers competed in three commonwealth games in 1978, 1986 & 1990. He was Commonwealth games champion of 1986 in men's doubles with Billy Gilliland, first ever player(s) in history of Scottish badminton to be a gold medalist. Until now, they remain only gold medalist from their country in badminton. They also reached career high of World no. 2 after their display at the All England in 1982.

At the 1986 Commonwealth Games, Travers was denied an almost certain team bronze medal when teammate Alison Fulton was carried off the court during the third match with Scotland leading Australia 2–0 at the time. Also in 1986, along with Billy Gilliland, they were awarded with BBC Scotland Sportsperson of the year.

He became National coach of Scotland in 1997 and later president of Badminton Scotland and has coached players at many Commonwealth games & other championships, even playing competitive sport himself at the senior level. He is a numerous time European Senior Champion and World Senior Champion as well.

Travers married fellow Scottish international Aileen Nairn.

Achievements World Games Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1981 San Jose Civic Auditorium,California, United States Billy Gilliland Thomas Kihlström Stefan Karlsson 15–10, 0–15, 9–15 Silver Bronze

World Senior Championships Mixed doubles Year Age Venue Partner Opponent Score Result Ref 2025 65+ Eastern National Sports Training Centre,Pattaya, Thailand Christine Black Birger Steenberg Maria Brzeznicka 21–14, 18–21, 21–15 Gold Gold

Commonwealth Games Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1986 Meadowbank Sports Centre,Edinburgh, Scotland Billy Gilliland Andy Goode Nigel Tier 15–8, 15–5 Gold Gold

European Championships Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1984 Guild Hall, Preston, England Billy Gilliland Morten Frost Jens Peter Nierhoff 13–15, 14–18 Bronze Bronze

IBF World Grand Prix The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1984 Canada Open Billy Gilliland Razif Sidek Jalani Sidek 11–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1985 Canada Open Billy Gilliland Jens Peter Nierhoff Henrik Svarrer 12–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1985 Scottish Open Billy Gilliland Michael Kjeldsen Mark Christiansen 2–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1986 Dutch Open Billy Gilliland He Xiangyang Tang Hai 13–18, 9–15 Runner-up 1986 Scottish Open Billy Gilliland Jesper Knudsen Henrik Svarrer 10–15, 10–15 Runner-up

Open tournaments Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1980 Irish Open Bill Thompson –, – Winner

Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1980 Irish Open Gordon Hamilton Frazer Evans Brian McKee –, – Winner 1980 Welsh Open Billy Gilliland Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 15–7, 11–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1980 Bells Open Billy Gilliland Ray Stevens Steve Baddeley 9–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1981 Bells Open Billy Gilliland Duncan Bridge Martin Dew 18–17, 15–12 Winner 1981 Dutch Open Billy Gilliland Andy Goode Mike Tredgett 15–5, 15–8 Winner 1982 Victor Cup Billy Gilliland Martin Dew Mike Tredgett 3–15, 2–15 Runner-up 1982 Scottish Open Billy Gilliland Donald Burden Mark Elliott 15–10, 15–10 Winner 1982 Canada Open Billy Gilliland Lars Wengberg Torbjörn Petersson 5–15, 13–15 Runner-up 1982 All England Open Billy Gilliland Jalani Sidek Razif Sidek 15–8, 9–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1982 Irish Open Billy Gilliland Ed Romejin Bas von Barnau Sijthoff 15–7, 15–8 Winner 1982 Portugal Open Billy Gilliland Darren Hall Ray Stevens 13–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1982 Dutch Open Billy Gilliland Martin Dew Mike Tredgett 15–11, 5–15, 15–17 Runner-up

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1980 Irish Open Christine Heatly Frazer Evans Diane Underwood –, – Runner-up

IBF International Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1985 Bells Open Glen Milton 9–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1986 Irish International Alex White 10–15, 14–15 Runner-up

Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1983 Irish International Billy Gilliland Barry Coffey John McArdle 15–2, 15–4 Winner 1983 Scottish International Billy Gilliland Gerry Asquith Andy Goode 15–6, 15–7 Winner 1984 Bells Open Billy Gilliland Bobby Ertanto Hafid Yusuf 15–8, 15–5 Winner 1984 Welsh International Billy Gilliland Martin Dew Morten Frost 15–8, 18–15 Winner 1985 Irish International Billy Gilliland Mark Elliott Gary Scott 15–3, 18–14 Winner 1985 Bells Open Billy Gilliland Mike Brown Richard Outterside 15–7, 15–7 Winner 1986 Bells Open Billy Gilliland Andy Goode Miles Johnson 15–12, 18–14 Winner 1986 Irish International Alex White Miles Johnson Andy Salvidge 18–15, 15–8 Winner 1987 Irish International Billy Gilliland Iain Pringle Alex White 9–15, 15–12, 16–18 Runner-up 1988 Irish International Anthony Gallagher Iain Pringle Alex White 7–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1989 Irish International Kenny Middlemiss Anthony Gallagher Russell Hogg 15–6, 15–6 Winner

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1983 Irish International Pamela Hamilton Billy Gilliland Christine Heatly 5–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1985 Irish International Pamela Hamilton Billy Gilliland Elinor Allen 16–17, 13–15 Runner-up 1986 Irish International Morag McKay Miles Johnson Caroline Gay 15–10, 15–7 Winner