Archive · 23 Aug 2026
French Badminton Players Reach Two Historic World Championship Finals
France had a very successful day at the badminton world championships.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue reached the mixed doubles final after beating a higher-seeded Chinese pair.
They came back after losing the first game and won the next two.
Alex Lanier also reached the men’s singles final by defeating Canada’s Victor Lai.
This means France has two players or pairs competing for world titles.
India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand earned a bronze medal in women’s doubles.
They were the first Indian women’s doubles pair to win a world championship medal since 2011.
Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi also advanced while trying to win her fourth world title.
France secured two finals places at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue defeated China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin in three games.
Alex Lanier overcame Canada’s Victor Lai to reach the men’s singles final.
India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won a historic women’s doubles bronze medal.
Defending champion Akane Yamaguchi reached the women’s singles final after beating Pornpawee Chochuwong.
- Who
- French players Thom Gicquel, Delphine Delrue and Alex Lanier, along with competitors from China, Canada, India, Japan, Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia.
- What
- France reached the mixed doubles and men’s singles finals at the 2026 BWF World Championships, while India secured a women’s doubles bronze medal.
- When
- Saturday during the semifinals of the 2026 championships.
- Where
- Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.
- Why
- The players were competing in the semifinals for places in the World Championship finals and medals.
- Event
- 2026 BWF World Championships
- Venue
- Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi
- French finalists
- Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue in mixed doubles and Alex Lanier in men’s singles
- Mixed doubles result
- Gicquel/Delrue beat Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin 19-21, 21-13, 21-11
- Men’s singles result
- Alex Lanier beat Victor Lai 16-21, 21-13, 21-14
- Indian medal
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won women’s doubles bronze
- Women’s singles result
- Akane Yamaguchi beat Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12, 21-17