Archive · 23 Aug 2026
France Wins Two Badminton World Titles in Historic Breakthrough
France won two badminton world titles on the same day.
Alex Lanier won the men’s singles competition.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue won mixed doubles.
They were the first French pair to win that mixed doubles title.
The wins came after many years of training and planning in France.
The programme uses national centres, regional centres and partnerships with clubs.
French coaches say the country still needs more strong players in other events.
The victories may help more people in France notice and follow badminton.
Alex Lanier won the men’s singles title by defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue became the first French pair to win the mixed doubles world title.
The victories are credited to a development system built over decades through national and regional centres and club partnerships.
France’s programme supports technical, tactical, physical and mental development, as well as coaching and performance analysis.
French officials called the achievement a first step, noting the country remains competitive mainly in men’s singles and mixed doubles.
- Who
- Alex Lanier, and the mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, won the titles for France.
- What
- France secured its first men’s singles world title and first mixed doubles world title.
- When
- At the World Championships; the articles do not state the exact date.
- Where
- At the World Championships; the host location is not stated in the articles.
- Why
- The victories followed a long-term French badminton development programme and were intended to establish France as a stronger international badminton nation.
Historic breakthrough
Cautious first step
Meaning of the victories
Historic breakthrough
The two titles represent a watershed moment and a historic breakthrough for French badminton, giving the sport unprecedented visibility in France.
Cautious first step
French officials and coaches describe the achievement as only the first step because France is not yet competitive across all badminton events.
Future ambitions
Historic breakthrough
The results suggest France’s long-term development system can challenge traditional Asian badminton powers.
Cautious first step
France still needs more players in the world’s top 30 and stronger performances across different events to become a leading badminton nation.
- Men’s singles champion
- Alex Lanier
- Mixed doubles champions
- Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue
- Men’s singles final
- Lanier defeated Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11.
- French badminton players
- France has around 250,000 licensed badminton players.
- Development network
- The system includes three national centres, nine regional centres and partnerships with around 60 clubs.
- Programme origins
- France’s first national centre was established in 1980.
- Current competitive events
- French officials said the country is currently competitive mainly in men’s singles and mixed doubles.