France claimed its first-ever world badminton titles in a historic surge at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India, capped by Alex Lanier’s dominant run in the men’s singles final. Lanier defeated Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 on Sunday at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, securing a milestone achievement for French badminton alongside mixed doubles champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.
Alex Lanier Dominates Kodai Naraoka to Claim Maiden World Title
Alex Lanier needed just 50 minutes to dispatch Kodai Naraoka with identical 21-11, 21-11 scorelines in the men’s singles final, according to ANTARA News. The 21-year-old French player dictated the pace of the match by controlling long rallies and forcing Naraoka into difficult defensive positions before finishing points with crisp, sharp attacks.
For Lanier, the victory marks the first world title of his career. The triumph also extends a stellar run for Lanier, who overcame difficult tests earlier in the tournament.
How Lanier Navigated the Draw in New Delhi
Lanier’s path to the gold medal required resilience against several of the sport’s established names. In the quarterfinals, he eliminated the 2023 world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in a grueling three-game battle, 19-21, 21-16, 21-16, as reported by Banjarmasin Post.
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The semifinal brought another stern test when Lanier dropped the opening game against Canada’s Victor Lai before roaring back to win 16-21, 21-13, 21-14. That mental toughness prepared him for a masterclass in the final against Naraoka, who previously finished as runner-up at the 2023 World Championships. Naraoka’s defeat prolongs Japan’s drought in the men’s singles division, which last saw a world champion when Kento Momota won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue Open Historical Account
Hours before Lanier’s victory, Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue laid the foundation for France’s historic Sunday by capturing the mixed doubles gold medal. The French pair overcame top-seeded Chinese duo Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in a tense three-game thriller, prevailing 22-20, 19-21, 21-15.
“Banyak sekali emosi. Kami sangat bahagia dan sangat bangga bisa memenangi emas pertama untuk Prancis,” Delrue said in remarks published by the Badminton World Federation and reported by ANTARA News, expressing the immense pride of winning the nation’s inaugural world crown. Gicquel and Delrue had previously advanced past China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin 19-21, 21-13, 21-11 in the semifinals.
A Watershed Moment for French Badminton
Prior to the 2026 championships in India, French badminton had never secured a gold medal—or even reached a final—at the BWF World Championships. The nation’s previous best results were limited to two bronze medals: Hongyan Pi in the women’s singles at the 2009 tournament, and a mixed doubles bronze by Gicquel and Delrue at the 2025 edition.
Converting their first two championship match appearances into twin gold medals highlights a broader ascent for the sport in France. The success in New Delhi builds directly upon recent international milestones, including Christo Popov winning the BWF World Tour Finals late last year and the French national team capturing the European Championships in February.
What Comes Next
Following the conclusion of the World Championships in New Delhi, players will turn their focus toward the remaining stops on the global BWF World Tour circuit as qualification and ranking points resume for the upcoming tournaments.
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