French Scale Dizzy Heights

Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue and Alex Lanier helped France summit a peak that no European nation has done since 1977.

Denmark won three gold at the inaugural year of the BWF World Championships; since then, no European nation has won more than one gold at a single edition.

It was a perfect finals day for France, with Gicquel/Delrue outplaying top seeds Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping in a tactical masterclass before Lanier imposed his physicality and speed on Kodai Naraoka in a straight-games rout.

Korea matched France’s gold medal tally, with An Se Young claiming her second title, and Lee So Hee/Baek Ha Na their first. Lee became the oldest women’s doubles titlist at 32.

Gicquel/Delrue’s feat was Europe’s first gold in a paired event since 2009 – incidentally, also in India — when Denmark’s Thomas Laybourn/Kamilla Rytter-Juhl won the mixed doubles.

The French completely took Huang out of the equation at the net, and even dared to flick-serve Feng from time to time. It was a flick serve on match point that finally delivered the historic moment for France.

“A lot of emotion, really, really happy and super proud to win the first gold for France,” said Delrue. “It was an amazing match, both pairs played really well, and we had to try a lot for a win. It’s amazing to hear the national anthem on the podium for the first time.”

“We’re thinking, it’s amazing to be between two Chinese flags,” said Gicquel. “When you are 10 years old you don’t really think that can happen, and it’s really hard to believe, actually. It’s really important for French badminton.”

Alex Lanier has built a reputation for being perhaps the strongest athlete in men’s singles. Whatever the metric for that reputation, the Frenchman’s superior speed and power was to wear Kodai Naraoka down, with the Japanese frequently fending off attacks. It took Lanier 50 minutes to close out the final 21-11 21-11.

“I was just proud of myself, honoured too to see the flag,” said Lanier. “The whole team has worked like crazy. By doing my best and delivering on court, I also honoured the flag and I was proud to see the flag going up.

“I felt I had a good sensation, even with the lifts from the fast side. For me it was about being patient but I also knew I had the legs to accelerate from time to time, and it’s a combination I needed to use, playing the rally and then changing the pace. It hurt Kodai a lot and it gave me confidence that you play the rally, and you might lose the rally, but it’s a long-term investment. Definitely I capitalised on that and it was very imp for me that physically I’m able to grind. I was very determined today.”

Akane Yamaguchi has been the standout player this season with six straight finals leading into the World Championships. Yet, even she could not contain the force that was An Se Young.

The Korean was all textbook pace, power and precision, not allowing Yamaguchi any room to impose her rhythm on the proceedings. The verdict was evident long before the final point, and An had her second world title to add to her status as Olympic champion.

Earlier, Korea had delivered the second shock to favourites China. Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning were overwhelming favourites in women’s doubles, having beaten Lee/Baek in their last five matches. And yet, their usual bustling energy was off; the Koreans stayed patient and the errors flowed from the Chinese. With the 21-15 21-15 win, Lee carved her own place in history, and Korea had their second-ever women’s doubles gold – their first in 31 years.

“I didn’t expect to win a World Championships gold at the age of 32. But with the help of Baek Ha Na, I was able to achieve this,” said Lee.

“We decided to play without making simple errors, there was drift and we just had to keep the shuttle inside the court. We were not aware that we are the first Koreans to win in 31 years, but as we have made history, we are very happy.”

With China having faltered in the two earlier finals, Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang would have been under pressure against 2022 champions Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik. Yet the Chinese showed little sign of that, and once they broke away after 14 in the opening game, they never looked back, closing out the final: 21-17 21-16