Russell Hogg

Russell Hogg, who has died aged 44, was one of Scotland's most celebrated badminton players and a passionate pioneer of equality for the disabled within the sport.

As the third most-capped player in the country, with 117 appearances, he had the hands-on experience that also made him a respected coach and mentor, encouraging countless players to reach their full potential.

He was also a key member of the team that delivered the badminton competition at the London 2012 Olympics, an achievement he was determined to see through despite a long-term battle with skin cancer. It was the culmination of a career that began when the Dunfermline-born athlete first picked up a racquet around the age of 10. But he was such a naturally gifted, all-round athlete that he could have excelled professionally in several fields.

The son of Ministry of Defence worker Harry Hogg and his wife Moira, he spent two years in Mauritius when his father's work took them to the Indian Ocean island, and on their return was educated at St Leonard's Primary, Dunfermline, where his mother was a teacher.

It was his father, also a badminton coach, who introduced him to the sport and the youngster quickly displayed an innate talent for the game. Though perhaps not the most technically gifted player he was exceptionally hard-working, developing his game at Alloa Badminton Club to win European gold in the under-14s.

Although badminton was always his first love, he was an enthusiastic cricket player. He lived just across the road from a cricket field and represented Scotland's under-16s and served as captain of Fife County Cricket Club for a season.

At Dunfermline High School he also proved himself an excellent basketball player and a whippet-like sprinter, one season producing a Meadowbank record in his age group for the 100m. A skilled footballer, the PE staff wanted him to take up the beautiful game along with rugby.

But after winning a series of junior badminton titles and moving up to the senior ranks he rapidly grew into a doubles player of international quality.

He left school around 1986 to work in administration with the Ministry of Defence at Rosyth Dockyard and it was about the same time that he made his Scotland debut.

Between 1988 and 2002 he won the Scottish National men's doubles title 10 times, eight of them with Kenny Middlemiss. He also won the mixed doubles twice with Kirsteen McEwan-Miller. On the world tournament circuit he reached a career best of No. 8 in mixed doubles and No. 17 in men's doubles.

Fifteen years ago he gave up work and became a full-time player. The move was tinged with sadness by the death of his father just days earlier but the loss seemed to spur him on even more.

Having just missed out on qualifying for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, he went on to become part of the Scotland squad which won team bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He made a major contribution by winning two of the games in the quarter finals to take the team through and it was the highlight of his international career.

He played his last match in 2003 to finish on 117 caps, alongside another Scotland great, Dan Travers. Only Mr Hogg's men's doubles partner Kenny Middlemiss, and Kenny's wife, Elinor, won more Scotland caps, 155 and 137 respectively.

He met his own wife, Julie, at a badminton club when he was 12. They played mixed doubles together, later winning the Gibraltar Open and the World Corporate Games. He also coached Shetland in the Island Games and the British Army in Hong Kong but, although he returned to Mauritius on honeymoon, he turned down an invitation to become the island's national coach.

After retiring from playing he worked for North Ayrshire Leisure as badminton development manager before joining the BADMINTONscotland staff in November 2004 as national development manager.

He spent more than six years with the organisation, during which time his interest in para-badminton intensified. And, in 2010, having forged links with Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), he left BADMINTONscotland to take up a post as SDS participation manager, a move that enabled him to work in an area that he cared about so much.

His enthusiasm for working with athletes with disabilities was fired by his determination for equity, said Gavin Macleod, chief executive officer of Scottish Disability Sport, and he really drove forward the inclusive approach, adamant that the same opportunities should be available to all.

Former Scotland international and former national coach Dan Travers said: "His dedication to his sport was there for all to see. He was a determined player but, off court, had a lovely, easy-going nature and his sense of humour and ability to make us laugh will be remembered fondly by all his friends."

A man who always had time for everyone, he lived for the day but had an enduring love for his sport that he once summed up succinctly. When asked hypothetically, "If not badminton, I would be?" he replied with one word: "Unhappy."

He is survived by his wife Julie, mother Moira, brother Bill, niece Brooke and nephews Murray and Fraser.