Je serai à jamais le premier,
declared Christo Popov, framing an unprecedented milestone for French badminton as he returned to the training courts in Fos-sur-Mer. RMC Sport reported that the newly crowned world number one stepped back onto the gym floor following his historic triumph at the Internationaux de France in Tremblay-en-France.
Stepping Back Onto the Court at the Gymnase des Carabins
At 11:30 a.m. on a quiet Thursday in late October, Popov arrived at the Gymnase des Carabins in Fos-sur-Mer behind the wheel of his black car, wearing a puffer jacket. RMC Sport noted that the 24-year-old left-hander had not touched a shuttlecock since capturing the singles title at the French tournament, saying he had been busy with other things.
Fatigue and lingering physical complaints also delayed his return. Popov reported pain in his left thigh that still requires daily treatment, smiling as he admitted that everything felt tight and sore. During his warm-up, the French player confessed his shoulder was burning as he eased back into training with light footwork and multi-shuttle drills designed to protect his body from injury.
Sparring With an Olympic Veteran
Sharing the court for the light session was 37-year-old Ronan Labar, a former elite doubles specialist who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Labar now divides his time between family life, his work as a physical education teacher, and sparring with Popov and his brother, Toma Junior. Training with a world number one is not something that happens every day,
Labar told RMC Sport, punctuating the reunion by presenting Popov with a six-pack of soda.
🇫🇷🏸 Le Français Christo Popov, sacré aux Internationaux de France dimanche à Tremblay (Seine-Saint-Denis), va devenir N.1 mondial de badminton, une première pour un badiste tricolore ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/oIUMYLCQDd
During breaks in the hour-long session—dictated by a strict schedule that forces the badminton players to yield the gymnasium to the local volleyball club by 1:30 p.m.—the pair reflected on the historic week in Paris. Labar critiqued the tactical aggression Popov displayed against his opening-round opponents, contrasting it with the training habits of the Popov brothers.
Reaching the Summit of the Badminton World Federation Rankings
The Badminton World Federation updated its official rankings on Tuesday, October 27, placing a French flag at the very top of the men’s singles list for the first time in history. Popov told RMC Sport that opening the rankings felt like looking at a photomontage. Less than 500 ranking points currently separate the French player from Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the world number two.
Labar praised the ascent as the rightful reward for a career of total dominance through the junior ranks before conquering the senior circuit. The milestone coincides with a broader period for French badminton, following world championship titles secured in August by Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in mixed doubles, and Alex Lanier in men’s singles.
Preparing for the Kumamoto Masters in Japan
After a few more days of rest and recovery at home in Fos-sur-Mer, Popov will board a flight to Japan. He is scheduled to compete at the Kumamoto Masters, running from November 10 to November 15, marking his debut tournament appearance as the current world number one.
Worth a look
