French badminton reached an unprecedented milestone on Sunday, August 23, 2026, capturing its first-ever world titles during a historic day of competition in New Delhi, India.
Alex Lanier Captures Men’s Singles Gold in New Delhi
Twenty-one-year-old Alex Lanier confirmed his meteoric rise by dominating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the men’s singles final, winning in straight sets (21-11, 21-11). Ranked 10th in the world, the Norman player and INSEP product controlled the match from the outset. After a brief initial battle, Lanier maintained his composure to secure the comfortable victory.
Lanier’s trajectory has accelerated sharply over recent seasons. Despite missing selection for the Paris Olympic Games, the current world number 10 cemented his status on the international circuit by winning a Super 750 tournament in Japan in August 2024—equivalent to a tennis Masters 1000—before capturing the European men’s singles title last year.
Delrue and Gicquel Make History in Mixed Doubles
Hours before Lanier’s triumph, Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel claimed the mixed doubles world title by defeating reigning world number one pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China with a score of 22-20, 19-21, 21-15. The French duo, who earned bronze at the 2025 World Championships, successfully overcame a head-to-head deficit after losing their four previous encounters against the Chinese top seeds.
“Il y a quinze ans, le badminton français ne pouvait pas rêver de ça,” Thom Gicquel stated following the victory, reflecting on the rapid development of the sport nationally. French President Emmanuel Macron also celebrated the achievement on social media, posting on X: “Thom Gicquel et Delphine Delrue sont champions du monde de badminton en double mixte : une première pour la France ! Bravo à nos deux champions !”
Navigating a Tough Draw to Reach the Summit
The path to the world title required Delrue and Gicquel to navigate past several top-tier pairs. Alongside their semifinal win over Chinese opponents Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, the French pair benefited from the quarterfinal withdrawal of fourth-ranked Thais Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran. Having previously broken new ground by winning a Super 1000 event, Delrue and Gicquel solidified their legacy as pioneers of French racquet sports alongside Lanier.
Related reading
