He did it! Christo POPOV (n°8) writes a little more French badminton history, by becoming the first tricolor to win the World Tour Finals! Impressive mastery all week and during the final, he knocked down the world number 1, SHI Yu Qi (China), 21/19 21/9, and won the best title of his career.
Published on: 21/12/2025
There was only one step left for Christo POPOV to write the most beautiful line on his list. A final stage which could seem oh so difficult on paper, facing the world number 1 and reigning World Champion, SHI Yu QI (China)! The Frenchman rose to this challenge with flying colors in a very high-level final. If the first set kept the Hangzhou public and all the badminton fans behind their screens in suspense as it was so competitive (21/19), the second very quickly turned to Christo’s advantage, cooling the room in the process when at 14/9 the Chinese no longer managed to find a solution. The Habs unfold, almost surprised by the turn of events, to the point of exultation (21/19 21/9). Christo POPOV doesn’t believe it, he has just won the best title of his career, the first in French badminton: a victory at the BWF World Tour.
This title is the consecration of a crazy week but also of an incredible season for the Frenchman, who will leave with complete confidence for the year 2026.
Christo POPOV : « Amazing week! If I had been told before leaving that I was going to win, it was borderline improbable. Day after day it was super complicated, it took a lot of mental and physical energy to go through all these group matches already, in 3 sets, then subsequently the semi-final and the final. In the final today, the first set was very complicated, the second was only one way but it was hard for me to get all the shuttlecocks. I am very happy to have been able to make it happen, in China in the country of badminton too. I hope to have some rest now. We are heading back into a season with plenty of confidence. It’s a title that belongs to me but also to the whole team around me and also to France. It was great to receive so much encouragement, it warms my heart. It’s great for France, I’m very happy. »
