Archive · 23 Aug 2026
French Pair Gicquel-Delrue Win Historic Badminton World Championship Gold
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue are badminton players from France.
They won the mixed doubles title at the BWF World Championships.
They beat the top-seeded Chinese pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.
The final was played in New Delhi, India.
A clever flick serve helped them win the final point.
This was the first World Championships gold for both French players.
It was also France’s first gold in this event and Europe’s first paired-event gold since 2009.
Afterward, their coaches surprised them with champagne, and the players said they wanted to drink from the bottle.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue won their first BWF World Championships mixed doubles title.
The French pair defeated top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in New Delhi.
A flick serve on match point secured France’s historic victory in the final.
Their triumph marked Europe’s first gold in a paired event since 2009.
The players celebrated with champagne and praised the tournament’s organization despite difficult air conditions.
- Who
- French mixed doubles players Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue defeated Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.
- What
- Gicquel and Delrue won their first BWF World Championships gold medal.
- When
- The final was held on Sunday.
- Where
- The final took place at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- They won by outplaying the top-seeded Chinese pair, securing a historic first gold for France in the event.
- Event
- BWF World Championships mixed doubles final
- Winners
- Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue of France
- Final opponents
- Top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping
- Venue
- Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi
- Historic significance
- Europe’s first gold in a paired event since 2009
- Celebration
- The French coaching staff surprised the players with champagne
- Player feedback
- The pair praised the week’s organization but said the air was difficult to breathe