Par
Aline Chatel
Published on
; updated Feb 8 2026 at 9:56 a.m.
A French championship final between the world number 7 and the world number 8, this is the exceptional poster that awaits the Palais des Sports in Caen, this Sunday February 8, 2026. Christo Popov, first winner of the World Tour Finals badminton in December 2025 after his victory over the world number 1, faces Alex Lanier, the child prodigy of discipline. Both men easily qualified for the meeting, with Alex Lanier crushing Christo’s brother Toma Junior in the semifinals (21-8, 21-8).
Alex Lanier has won the last two confrontations
If the French championships do not constitute an objective in its own right for the two stars of the tricolor steering wheel, there is no doubt that the fight will rage in Caen. “I don’t want to lose,” repeats Alex Lanier, who will play in front of family, friends, acquaintances and supporters. In April 2025, Alex Lanier had beat his compatriot in the semi-final of the European Championships (21-15, 21-23 21-19). He then won the title. Alex Lanier had also won the previous confrontation, a year earlier, at the European Championships as well. Christo Popov’s last victory over Ranvillais dates back to 2022. Alex Lanier was 17 years old. But Christo Popov is on a remarkable upward slope.
Five finals will follow one another
The final between the two men is pprogrammed has 13:00, this Sunday, February 8, at the Palais des Sports. She will succeed the women’s finalwhich pits Rosy Pancasari against Romane Cloteaux-Foucault. At 2:00 p.m., it will be the women’s doubles final. Mixed doubles, where Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue will be the big favoritesis expected at 3:00 p.m. The event will end with the men’s final, with the Popov brothers featured.
The matches will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the French Badminton Federation, but also on The L’Equipe and Sport channel in France.
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