France celebrates historic badminton double as Lanier wins men’s title
A 21‑year‑old French player captured the men’s singles crown in New Delhi, giving France its first world title in the event and pairing it with a mixed‑doubles triumph.
At the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi, Lanier became the first French man to win the singles title, beating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21‑11, 21‑11. The victory completed a historic double for France, which also secured its inaugural mixed‑doubles gold on the same day.
Why the win matters
The men’s final was a showcase of French depth. Lanier, ranked world number 10, surged ahead after a tight first game, then dominated the second with a blend of aggressive attacks and solid defence. His triumph follows a remarkable run that saw him defeat world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Victor Lai en route to the final.
In the women’s final, An Se-young of South Korea retained her title, overcoming Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in straight games. The match, lasting just 49 minutes, highlighted An’s relentless baseline play and powerful smashes.
Mixed doubles makes history
The mixed‑doubles final saw the French pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue defeat top‑seeded Chinese duo Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping 22‑20, 19‑21, 21‑15, delivering France its first world championship gold in that discipline.
"I think today was a day for French badminton and for the whole staff as well," Lanier said after his win. "When the mixed pair won, everyone was happy, and I wanted to give them a double smile, a double moment, and make history again."
What comes next
With the championships concluding at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the French badminton federation is likely to capitalise on the momentum, planning increased funding for elite training programmes and promotional tours ahead of the 2028 Olympic cycle. Meanwhile, the mixed‑doubles success may encourage other European nations to invest more heavily in the discipline.
Other finals saw South Korea’s Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee claim the women’s doubles, and China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning finish as runners‑up, underscoring the global competitiveness of the sport.
As the sport looks to broaden its appeal, the French double could serve as a catalyst for new sponsorship deals and a boost in viewership across Europe, echoing trends seen in other high‑profile sports investments such as US investors' stake in Premier League clubs.
