Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue Make History as France's First Badminton World Champions

Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue achieved a historic milestone on August 23, 2026, by becoming France's first badminton World Champions in mixed doubles. They secured their victory in New Delhi, India, against the Chinese duo of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.

The French pair, ranked fifth in the world, triumphed in a closely contested final, winning with scores of 22-20, 19-21, and 21-15 after one hour and 18 minutes of play. This victory marks the pinnacle of their careers, following a bronze medal at the previous World Championships.

Gicquel and Delrue's performance was characterized by strategic play, particularly at the net, which effectively limited their opponents' impact. Their win adds to a strong season, having previously finished as runners-up at the All England Championships and reached the semifinals in both the Indonesia and China Super 1000 events. This title makes them the first French mixed doubles pair to achieve such an honor.