The 2026 BWF World Championships concluded with a historic double triumph for French badminton in New Delhi, as Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel captured the mixed doubles crown before Alex Lanier secured the men’s singles title.
A Historic Breakthrough in New Delhi
French badminton reached an unprecedented milestone on Sunday, August 23, 2026, claiming two world titles at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India. The nation’s rising generation delivered a watershed moment for the sport, capped off by gold medals in mixed doubles and men’s singles within hours of each other.
The breakthrough victory arrived first on the courts through mixed doubles pair Delphine Delrue and Thom Gicquel. The French duo engineered a major upset against the world’s top-ranked partnership, China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping, securing a hard-fought 22-20, 19-21, 21-15 victory. According to match accounts, the triumph carried extra significance given that Delrue and Gicquel had dropped all four of their prior head-to-head encounters against the Chinese pair.
Overcoming Top-Tier Rivals
Delrue and Gicquel’s championship run required navigating a grueling bracket that removed multiple tournament favorites. A day prior to the final, the French pair eliminated another prominent Chinese duo, Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin. Their path also benefited from the quarterfinal withdrawal of Thailand’s fourth-ranked team, Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran. Having previously claimed a bronze medal at the 2025 championships, captured a European title in 2024, and won a prestigious Super 1000 tournament, Delrue and Gicquel cemented their status among the elite of international badminton.
“Fifteen years ago, French badminton couldn’t dream of this,” Thom Gicquel stated after the match, moments before the first rendition of La Marseillaise echoed through the venue. French President Emmanuel Macron also celebrated the achievement on social media, posting on X that the mixed doubles victory marked a historic first for the country.
Alex Lanier Dominates Men’s Singles Final
Building on the momentum of the mixed doubles victory, 21-year-old Alex Lanier delivered a masterclass in the men’s singles final. Facing Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, the world No. 10 from Normandy dismantled his opponent in straight games, winning 21-11, 21-11. Lanier weathered an early battle in the opening set before establishing complete control with his trademark calm demeanor, cruising through the second frame to seal the championship.
Lanier’s gold medal continues a meteoric rise for the young French star. Although he missed selection for the Paris Olympic Games, the Insep-trained athlete has steadily conquered the BWF circuit. In August 2024, he became the first French player to win a Super 750 event in Japan, adding to the European men’s singles championship he secured the following year.
What Comes Next for French Badminton
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