Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Alex Lanier Wins France’s First Men’s Singles World Title
Alex Lanier is a badminton player from France.
He won the men’s singles world championship by beating Kodai Naraoka of Japan.
Lanier won both games by the same score, 21-11.
This made him the first Frenchman to win this badminton title.
He had earlier beaten Victor Lai of Canada and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
Lanier said the victory was important for French badminton, not only for himself.
He hopes more people in France will watch and enjoy the sport.
France also won the mixed doubles title at the same championships.
Alex Lanier defeated Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 to win the BWF World Championships men’s singles title.
The 21-year-old Frenchman won the final at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in about 50 minutes.
Lanier became France’s first men’s singles finalist and first Frenchman to win the world title.
He defeated Canada’s Victor Lai and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn during the knockout stages.
France also won its first mixed doubles world title, while South Korea captured the women’s doubles championship.
- Who
- Alex Lanier of France defeated Kodai Naraoka of Japan; Lanier had earlier beaten Victor Lai of Canada and Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
- What
- Lanier won the BWF World Championships men’s singles title in straight games.
- When
- The semifinal was played on Saturday, August 22, 2026, and the final took place on Sunday.
- Where
- The matches were held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- The victory gave France its first men’s singles world title and was seen as a major breakthrough for French badminton.
- Champion
- Alex Lanier, France
- Final opponent
- Kodai Naraoka, Japan
- Final score
- Lanier won 21-11, 21-11
- Final venue
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi
- Historic achievement
- France’s first men’s singles world title and first men’s singles finalist
- Knockout-stage wins
- Lanier defeated Victor Lai and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn
- Semifinal score discrepancy
- One report lists 16-21, 21-13, 21-14; another lists 21-16, 13-21, 14-21
- Other French title
- Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue won France’s first mixed doubles world championship gold
