| Nationality | British (Scottish) |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 16 June 1956 (age 70) |
| Birth place | Scotland |
| Spouse | Aileen Travers |
| Event | Doubles |
| Highest ranking | 2 (with Billy Gilliland) |
| Date of highest ranking | 1982 |
| Handedness | Right |
| Bwfbadminton id | 578 |
| Bwf id | BA652FAE-4DB5-4974-8A0E-6A592D708E78 |
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.[1][2]
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.[3]
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.[4] Also in 1986, along with Billy Gilliland, they were awarded with BBC Scotland Sportsperson of the year.[5]
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.[6]
Travers married fellow Scottish international Aileen Nairn.[7][8]
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 | 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 | [9] |
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 |
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 |
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 |
References
- ^ "Profile:Dan Travers". bwfbadminton.com. Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Daniel "Dan" Travers". universitystory.gla.ac.uk. 18 June 2014. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ Egelstaff, Susan (30 April 2014). "Meeting two men who took gold at our last home Games". www.heraldscotland.com. The Herald. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Tragic injury deprives Scots of a medal". Dundee Courier. 28 July 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 19 January 2026. – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Burnside, Elspeth (10 December 1986). "Travers in with treble chance". Glasgow Herald. p. 22. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Perth's Dan Travers reflects on World Senior Championships victory". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Perthshire Advertiser. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Travers to look after future of badminton". Dundee Courier. 29 February 1996. p. 20. Retrieved 14 January 2026. – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Travers seeks different future". www.heraldscotland.com. Herald Scotland. 8 March 1995. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Amazing Thailand-Pattaya BWF World Senior Championships 2025". bwfbadminton. Retrieved 13 September 2025.