BWF World Championships: French pair Gicquel and Delrue crowned world champions in mixed doubles

Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue have written a new chapter in French badminton history, defeating world no. 1 Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in a thrilling three-set battle, 22-20, 19-21, 21-15. Partners for around a decade, the French duo produced one of the biggest wins of their careers against opponents who had beaten them in all four of their previous meetings. This time, however, Gicquel and Delrue controlled much of the contest and held their nerve when it mattered most.

The opening game was fiercely contested, with neither pair able to establish a significant advantage. After a superb rally finished by Gicquel gave the French pair their first game point, a Chinese mistake handed them the second opportunity they needed to take the opening set 22-20. Feng and Huang responded strongly in the second game. The Chinese pair raced into a 12-8 lead as the intensity increased, keeping the French duo at arm's length for much of the set. Gicquel and Delrue had an opportunity to draw level at 19-18 but could not take it, allowing their opponents to force a deciding game with a 21-19 victory.

The French pair, though, showed no signs of being affected by the setback. They made a brilliant start to the third game and quickly established a lead. Despite persistent efforts from the Chinese world no. 1 to fight their way back, Gicquel and Delrue remained composed and closed out the match 21-15. Their remarkable run had already begun the previous day, when they defeated another Chinese combination, Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin. They also benefited from the quarterfinal withdrawal of Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran, the world no. 4 pair, meaning the French duo effectively cleared three of the world's top four combinations on their way through the tournament.

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Ranked fifth in the world, Gicquel and Delrue have now added another extraordinary achievement to an already impressive resume. Last year, they became the first French players to win a Super 1000 tournament, badminton's highest level of international competition. They also secured a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Their success extends further back. In 2024, the French pair were crowned European champions, cementing their place among the leading mixed doubles partnerships in the sport. Their latest victory over the world's top-ranked pair is therefore more than just another tournament win, it is a landmark moment for French badminton and another milestone in the remarkable partnership of Gicquel and Delrue.

'10 years ago, no French player could have thought about that'

France’s men’s doubles pair celebrated a historic milestone at the BWF World Championships 2026, becoming the country’s first-ever world champions in badminton. “It’s amazing. Like 10 years ago, no French player could have thought about that,” they said, reflecting on a journey that started when they were teenagers at France’s National Centre.

The pair, who have played together for around a decade, credited their early success in Europe, greater federation support and the professionalisation of badminton in France for helping them reach the world stage. “When we won our first Super 100 at 19, we believed that we could do something,” they recalled, adding that their confidence grew gradually after beating top-ranked opponents. Their partnership, however, was not always smooth. “At the start we were not talking at all for the first three or four years,” they admitted. Coaching and mental training eventually helped them communicate better and understand each other.

Now, they hope their historic triumph can push badminton further into the spotlight in France.

“We are really good in so many sports that I think a lot of people will start to follow us and follow badminton, so that’s amazing,” they said. Their celebration will begin in Hong Kong, with the newly crowned world champions joking that there will be “good food and good drinks” before they return home to a sport that they hope will now attract thousands of new fans.