Perth’s Dan Travers has added to a forever-growing medal haul after a successful trip to the World Senior Badminton Championships.
The former Commonwealth Games star recently travelled to the south-western Spanish city of Huelva for the high-profile tournament.
A calf injury picked up in the lead-up to the event meant the focus was very much on doubles when action started earlier this month.
He teamed up with fellow Scot Christine Black to win silver in the 60+ mixed doubles.
Travers admits it should have been gold after losing out 18-21, 24-22, 21-19 to Swedish pair Magnus Ericsson and Kerstin Kristoffersson.
He told the PA: “We had a very good chance in the mixed doubles. We should have won it. It was poor play from us.
“We were up 17-13 in the second set and, with our experience, you should not lose from that position. But we managed to do that somehow.
“Christine did very well at the event. She lost a close game in her singles final but won the ladies’ doubles. She had a good week.”
A 60+ men’s doubles bronze medal also returned to the Fair City with Travers, who teamed-up with Danish player Jesper Helledie.
Their journey in the tournament was ended by Jack Keith Priestman of Canada and Geoffrey Stensland of the USA 21-15, 21-18.
“I was hoping I would have won the men’s doubles,” said Travers, who claimed Commonwealth Games gold in 1986.
“The American and Canadian were very fit and were just coming into the age group.
“Jesper was playing down an age group to play with me. I’m 65 and he is three years older at 68. They were both 60.
“It was their mobility and agility about the court that was way better than ours.”
Travers’ calf problem meant that he pulled out of the singles but simply being back at the event made for a special week.
“I had been on the court very little,” he explained. “I practised twice up at Perth College UHI before I pulled my calf.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to compete but I thought: ‘I’m going anyway’.
“It is nowhere near as physical for me if I’m not playing singles. I came out of the singles in my first match.
“I had won the first set but I went forward to play a net shot and felt something in my calf. I said I was stopping.
“The singles is tough and is very physical. These guys are all training for it. I don’t train - but I love it. I saved myself for the doubles.”
Travers continued: “It was just superb to see everyone again. The camaraderie is superb.”
Over the coming months and years Travers is looking forward to getting out on the court and playing more.
He concluded: “I’m going to retire from coaching and will get a chance to play a wee bit more badminton myself.”
