French Badminton Shines: Orleans Masters Titles and International Success
The past week, spanning March 16th to March 22nd, saw French badminton players achieve significant success on both domestic and international stages. From thrilling victories at the Orleans Masters Super 300 tournament to strong performances in Spain and Poland, French athletes demonstrated their growing prowess in the sport. This recap details the key results and upcoming events for the French badminton team.
Orleans Masters Super 300: A Double Triumph for France
The Orleans Masters, a staple on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) calendar, proved particularly fruitful for the French team in 2026. The tournament, in its 32nd edition, witnessed French pairs claiming two coveted titles. Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, ranked 5th in the world, showcased their precision and composure to defeat Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje (ranked 9th) in the mixed doubles final. The French duo secured the victory with a 21-19, 21-13 scoreline, adding a second Orleans Masters title to their resume, seven years after their first win.
The Palais des Sports was filled with enthusiastic support as Toma Junior Popov and Alex Lanier battled for the men’s singles title. Lanier, the defending champion, emerged victorious with a decisive 21-11, 21-13 win. This marks the third time a player has won the men’s singles title twice at the Orleans Masters, following Mark Caljouw (2017 & 2018) and Popov himself (2021 & 2022).
Para Spanish International: Silver and Bronze for French Para-Badminton Athletes
French para-badminton athletes also enjoyed success at the Spanish Para Badminton International in the Basque Country, Spain, securing two silver medals and one bronze. Marjorie Boigeol (SL4 category) put up a strong fight in the final against Turkey’s Tugce Celik, mounting a comeback from 13-18 to 17-18 in the first set, but ultimately falling short with a 19-21, 14-21 defeat. Boigeol had previously defeated Brazil’s Coutinho Reis, ranked number 3 globally, in the pool stage.
Milena Surreau (SL3 category) also reached the final, where she was defeated by Japan’s Shino Kawai 7-21, 2-21. The French duo of Pauline Beaufour-Pelle and Amélie Mongenot (SH6 women’s doubles) secured a bronze medal, losing in the semi-final to the Egyptian-American pairing of Eissa/Simon.
Polish Open International Challenge: Levêque Reaches Semi-Finals
Sacha Levêque delivered a standout performance at the Polish Open International Challenge in Lodz, reaching the semi-finals of the men’s singles event. He was ultimately defeated by Singapore’s Jason Teh, the top seed, in a close match, 16-21, 22-24. Levêque’s journey included a first-round victory over Dmitriy Panarin, ranked 87th in the world. Thibault Gardon and Tom Lalot Trescarte also advanced to the quarter-finals.
Thomas Cup Draw: A Challenging Group for the French Team
On Wednesday, March 18th, the draw for the Thomas Cup, the world men’s team championships, took place in Kuala Lumpur. France, enjoying an unprecedented seeding of 5th, found themselves in a challenging group. They will face Indonesia, a consistently strong badminton nation, along with Thailand, and Algeria. Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the knockout stage.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Tournaments
The French badminton team’s competitive schedule continues this week with athletes participating in several international events.
Amaury Lièvre and Romane Cloteaux-Foucault will be competing at the Brazil International Challenge, traveling across the Atlantic for the tournament.
The Spanish Para-Badminton International continues in Toledo, Spain, with a higher level of competition (Level 1). Although the tournament draws haven’t been published yet, several French para-badminton athletes are expected to participate.
Domestically, the 9th day of the Top 12 league will take place this weekend. ASPTT Strasbourg, already qualified for the playoffs, will host Aire-sur-la-Lys in a crucial match. Union St Bruno will face Aix-en-Provence, while Rostrenen and Mulhouse will battle for positioning behind Aire. In the second pool, Fos, the leaders, will travel to Chambly for a key match, and St Maur will host Caen, while Racing Club de France will welcome Flume Ille Badminton.
Brazil International Challenge Spanish Para-Badminton International Top 12 – 9ème journée
The French badminton team continues to demonstrate its strength and potential on the world stage. Fans can follow the team’s progress and stay updated on results through official BWF channels and the French Badminton Federation website.
