Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Lanier, An Se Young Lead Historic Badminton World Championships
The 2026 Badminton World Championships finished in New Delhi on Sunday.
France had a historic tournament, winning mixed doubles and men’s singles gold medals.
Alex Lanier beat Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in two straight games.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue won France’s first mixed doubles world title.
Korea also won two gold medals.
An Se Young regained the women’s singles championship, while Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee won women’s doubles.
China continued its record of winning at least one title at every World Championships since 1983.
Fans in the stadium also celebrated India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who received bronze medals.
Alex Lanier won France’s first men’s singles world title by defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11.
An Se Young reclaimed the women’s singles crown with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over defending champion Akane Yamaguchi.
France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue captured the country’s first World Championships gold in mixed doubles.
Korea’s Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee won the women’s doubles title, ending a 31-year national wait.
China preserved its streak of winning at least one title at every World Championships since 1983 through Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang’s men’s doubles victory.
- Who
- Alex Lanier, An Se Young, Thom Gicquel, Delphine Delrue, Baek Ha Na, Lee So Hee, Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang won titles.
- What
- The 2026 BWF World Championships concluded with five finals and several national records.
- When
- The championships concluded on Sunday; the article identifies the event as the 2026 edition.
- Where
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
- Why
- The finals determined the world champions and produced historic achievements for France, Korea and China.
- Men’s singles champion
- Alex Lanier of France defeated Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11.
- Women’s singles champion
- An Se Young of Korea defeated Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14.
- Mixed doubles champions
- Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue of France defeated Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping 22-20, 19-21, 21-15.
- Women’s doubles champions
- Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee of Korea defeated Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15.
- Men’s doubles champions
- Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China defeated Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-16, 21-17.
- Attendance
- The final day drew a solid turnout of fans in New Delhi.
- Notable record
- Lee So Hee became the oldest women’s doubles world champion at 32 years and 70 days.