Mixed Doubles Triumph Over Top Seeds
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, ranked fifth in the world, defeated China’s top-ranked duo of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in a hard-fought mixed doubles final. According to the reports, the French pair claimed victory with a score of 22-20, 19-21, 21-15 after one hour and 18 minutes on court. Gicquel and Delrue, who earned bronze at the previous edition of the championships in Paris, executed a tactical masterclass at the net to neutralize Huang’s influence.
“It’s an amazing moment for us. It was the goal, but to achieve it, it’s something else. Gicquel added that the pair maintained a strict match-by-match focus throughout a difficult tournament path.”
Men’s Singles Dominance by Alex Lanier
Shortly after the mixed doubles victory, compatriot Alex Lanier claimed the men’s singles world title. Lanier defeated Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in a lopsided summit clash with straight games ending 21-11, 21-11, according to the published reports. The double victory marks a monumental weekend for French badminton, building on a steady trajectory that included Gicquel and Delrue finishing as runners-up at the All England Championships and reaching semifinals at the Indonesia and China Super 1000 tournaments earlier in the year.
These victories follow a 17-year milestone for French badminton initiated by Pi Hongyan, who secured the country’s first World Championships medal with a bronze in women’s singles back in 2009. With Gicquel, Delrue, and Lanier reaching the top of the podium in New Delhi, France now adds world championship gold to its growing international badminton resume.
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