Birmingham, England – French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue continued their impressive run at the All England Open on Thursday, securing their place in the quarterfinals of the prestigious tournament. Often dubbed the “Wimbledon of badminton,” the All England Open presents a unique challenge for players, and Gicquel and Delrue have navigated the early rounds with composure and skill.
The duo began their day with a dominant straight-sets victory over India’s Rohan Kappor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, winning 21-12, 21-15. They followed that performance with another straight-sets win in the round of 16, overcoming Japan’s Sayaka Hobara and Yuichi Shimogami 21-18, 21-11. “It was a incredibly good match. The Japanese played well. It was a big battle in the first set, but we held on. In the second, we played even better, which was great,” Gicquel said, according to reports from Le Télégramme.
A Quarterfinal Clash Against the World No. 2
Gicquel and Delrue, currently ranked No. 5 in the world in mixed doubles as of December 30, 2025, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), will now face a significant challenge in the quarterfinals: China’s Zhen Bang Jiang and Ya Xin Wei, the world No. 2 ranked pair. The French duo is eager to continue their momentum in a tournament they describe as incredibly exciting.
“The conditions are super. It’s super exciting to be able to play at the All England, the most prestigious tournament in the world. We’re looking forward to playing again tomorrow and we’re in good shape!” Gicquel added. Yet, the path to the semifinals won’t be easy. Gicquel and Delrue have previously lost to Jiang and Wei in their last two encounters, raising the stakes for this upcoming match.
Thom Gicquel, born January 12, 1999, hails from Tours, France, and has quickly risen through the ranks of the badminton world. He and Delphine Delrue achieved a career-high ranking of No. 5 in the world on January 3, 2023, and currently maintain that ranking as of the latest BWF update. Their partnership has yielded significant success, 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. Gicquel also demonstrated early promise, winning 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.
The All England Open is a Super 1000 event on the BWF World Tour, meaning it carries significant ranking points and prestige. For Gicquel and Delrue, a victory over the No. 2 ranked Chinese pair would not only be a significant upset but also a major boost to their Olympic qualification prospects. The tournament is drawing considerable attention from badminton fans worldwide, with many eager to see if the French duo can overcome their previous defeats and make a deep run in Birmingham.
The quarterfinals promise a thrilling contest, testing the resilience and tactical prowess of both pairs. Gicquel and Delrue will need to be at their best to overcome their previous results against Jiang and Wei and secure a spot in the semifinals. The match is scheduled for Friday, and badminton enthusiasts will be keenly watching to see if the French pair can pull off a stunning victory.
What’s Next: Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue will face Zhen Bang Jiang and Ya Xin Wei in the quarterfinals of the All England Open on Friday. Further updates and results can be found on the BWF website (https://bwfbadminton.com/) and through official tournament channels.
