Birmingham, England – The French duo of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue fought valiantly at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships on Sunday, ultimately falling to Taiwan’s Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Chan in the mixed doubles final. Despite a strong start and a spirited performance, the fifth-ranked French pair were defeated 21-19, 21-18 at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.
The match marked a close contest from the outset. Gicquel and Delrue, who had previously defeated the world No. 2 pair in the quarterfinals, appeared poised to take the first game, leading 18-14. However, Ye and Chan mounted a late comeback, capitalizing on a slight dip in form from the French team to secure the first set 21-19.
The Taiwanese pair carried that momentum into the second game, establishing an early lead. While Gicquel and Delrue demonstrated resilience, battling back to within a point at 18-19, Ye and Chan closed out the match, claiming the silver medal for the French team. The final score of 21-18 in the second game sealed the victory for the Taiwanese duo.
This marks a significant achievement for Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Chan, representing their biggest title to date. For Gicquel and Delrue, the silver medal represents a continued upward trajectory in their careers. The pair previously won a Super 1000 title in Indonesia in June 2025 and this result further solidifies their position among the world’s elite mixed doubles teams.
Thom Gicquel, born January 12, 1999, currently ranks fifth in the world in mixed doubles with Delphine Delrue, a ranking they held as of March 3, 2026, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Gicquel has a history of success, including gold medals at the 2017 European Junior Championships in both the mixed team and boys’ doubles events, and a men’s doubles gold at the 2018 Mediterranean Games. He reached a career-high ranking of 5th in mixed doubles with Delphine Delrue on January 3, 2023.
Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel have enjoyed a successful partnership, including a gold medal at the 2024 European Championships, a silver medal at the 2022 European Championships, and a bronze medal at the 2019 European Games. They also secured gold in the mixed doubles at the 2023 European Games and have consistently represented France on the international stage, including at the European Mixed Team Championships.
Despite the disappointment of the final, the All England Open showcased the growing strength of French badminton. The tournament, a prestigious event in the badminton calendar, drew significant attention, as reported by goSkagit (via Google News).
Looking ahead, Gicquel and Delrue will return to competition at the Orléans Masters in France, scheduled to take place from March 17th to March 22nd. Fans eager to support the French pair can find ticket information at the Orléans Masters website.
The Orléans Masters will provide another opportunity for Gicquel and Delrue to build on their recent success and continue their pursuit of further titles on the BWF World Tour. The tournament is a key event for European badminton players and will feature some of the world’s top talent.
This silver medal at the All England Open serves as a testament to the dedication and skill of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, and their continued progress promises exciting prospects for French badminton fans.
