Badminton WC: French players make it to two historic finals

New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) The French contingent had a lot to celebrate in the first half of the semifinals day as they sealed two final spots in the BWF World Championships 2026 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.

Fifth-seeded mixed doubles combination of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue came from a game down to upset second-seeded Chinese pairing of Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin to become the first-ever French finalists in the history of the World Championships. The French pairing led 12-0 in the decider and did not let go of that advantage despite some late pressure from their opponents, winning 19-21, 21-13, 21-11.

Ninth seed Alex Lanier then joined the duo for final day action after he got the better of Canada’s seventh seed Victor Lai 16-21, 21-13, 21-14 in the men’s singles semifinal that lasted 85 minutes.

The side’s heroics came soon after the hosts ended their campaign in the 2026 World Cup with a historic bronze as Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand put up a spirited fight against world number one Chinese combination of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning but went down in three games.

Treesa and Gayatri, ranked 39th in the world, had accounted for three seeded pairs to reach the semifinals, ending India’s 15-year wait for a women’s doubles medal since Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa achieved that feat back in 2011.

Later in the day, defending champion Akane Yamaguchi stayed on course for a historic fourth world title when she accounted for Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12, 21-17 in the first women’s singles semifinal.

Important results:

Men’s Singles: 9-Alex Lanier (FRA) bt 7-Victor Lai (CAN) 16-21, 21-13, 21-14

Women’s Singles: 2-Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) bt 10-Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA) 21-12, 21-17

Women’s doubles: 1-Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning bt Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly (IND) 18-21, 21-13, 21-8; 3-Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee (KOR) bt 8-Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min 21-17, 21-12

Mixed doubles: 1-Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (CHN) bt Amri Syahnawi/Nita Marwah (INA) 20-22, 21-14, 22-20; 5-Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (FRA) bt 2-Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin (CHN) 19-21, 21-13, 21-11

–IANS

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