Never before has a French badista reached such a summit. This Sunday, in Hangzhou (China), Christo Popov wrote the most beautiful page in the history of French badminton. The 23-year-old from Fos-sur-Mer won the prestigious World Tour Finals by crushing the world number 1 at home. Reaction of a champion who has drawn on his mental resources.
It’s the equivalent of a Masters in tennis: the masters tournament which brings together the 8 best players on the planet. And in the end, it’s the Fosséen who wins. Christo Popov (8th in the world) achieved the unthinkable in the final: dominating the Chinese Shi Yu Qi, defending champion and world number 1, in two dry sets (21-19, 21-9).
“If someone had told me that last week…”
At the microphone, a few minutes after his coronation, Christo Popov still has difficulty realizing the magnitude of the performance. “Incredible week… If someone had told me last week before leaving that I was going to win, frankly, it was borderline improbable”confides the champion.
Because the path to gold was not a long, quiet river. The tournament was a real physical and psychological marathon. “Day after day, it was super complicated. It took a lot of mental and physical energy to go for all these group matches, already in three sets”analyzes the player from Fos-sur-Mer who beat in his path the players ranked numbers 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9th in the world.
Alone against everyone “in the land of Badminton”
The feat is all the more resounding as it took place in the lion’s den. Win in China, “the land of badminton”facing a local idol supported by his audience, is a feat.
In the final, after a tight first set (21-19), the Fosséen unfolded, perhaps benefiting from the wear and tear of his opponent, but above all from unshakeable confidence. “I am very happy to have been able to make it happen in China. It’s a title that belongs to me, but also to the whole team around me and to France.”he says humbly.
Full of confidence for 2026
After this victory at Hangzhouwhich offers him the most prestigious title of his young career, Christo Popov will be able to breathe. “I hope there will be a little rest now”he smiles.
But this trophy changes everything. It now places the licensee of Badminton Club Fos in a new dimension for the future. “We’re heading off to a season with lots of confidence”. The message got through: the boss this weekend was indeed the little prince of Fos.
photo credits BadmintonPhoto
