BWF World Championships 2026: Toma Popov slams 'unfair' schedule after France doubles exit
Synopsis
Toma Popov's post-match remarks at the 2026 BWF World Championships cut through the usual sporting platitudes — a French doubles exit doubled as a rare, pointed critique of tournament scheduling, with a world-class player openly questioning whether the draw was 'so fair'. The Popovs lost on the court, but the scheduling debate they've ignited could echo beyond New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov lost in the men's doubles at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi on 17 August .
Opponents Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami of Japan won, with Japan controlling the serve-and-return phase decisively.
Toma criticised the tournament schedule as 'not so fair', citing insufficient recovery time between his singles and doubles matches.
Both brothers rejected the notion that playing two events reduces competitive intensity, insisting they compete to win in every match.
Christo noted varying court conditions across the venue and said experience from Monday's court could benefit him in later rounds.
France's Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov crashed out of the men's doubles at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi on Monday, 17 August, losing to Japan's Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami in a match overshadowed by a punishing schedule that left Toma with minimal recovery time between his singles and doubles commitments.
Toma's Frustration With the Schedule
Toma was candid about the physical toll of the compressed turnaround. 'It was really tough to recover. I didn't feel good when I went on the court directly. I have no idea why the referee put me into such a tight schedule. Maybe you should ask them why, because I don't think it was so fair. We have to adapt, and that's it. I did my best, so I tried to do the best recovery I could,' he said after the defeat.
The Frenchman described a scramble to refuel and return to court as quickly as possible. 'I tried to eat properly as fast as possible and come back for the men's double and be ready. Even if I was not 100% today in the men's double. I think I gave my best, and Christo also did his best, so that's the most important,' Toma added.
Where the Match Was Lost
Despite the scheduling grievance, Toma was clear-eyed about the tactical reasons for the loss. He identified the early exchanges — serve, return, and the critical third shot — as the phase where Japan seized control. 'Serve, return and half-court, third shot. I think. And especially with proactive defence,' he said when asked where the match had slipped away.
Christo offered a complementary assessment, noting that the Japanese pair presented a stern first-round test regardless of conditions. 'The first match against the Japanese was maybe also a pretty tough first round to get into the tournament. I think we needed to play our best today to beat them. We didn't, so that's part of the game,' he said.
Professionalism Over Excuses
Both brothers were firm in rejecting any suggestion that competing in two events softens the competitive drive. Toma pushed back on the idea that a doubles safety net reduces pressure in singles. 'Maybe it gives you a little bit less pressure, but I think we are professionals. When we go on court, we go for the win, and we don't go because we have a suffering on back-up. We go all-in, and it's 100% as what we got on the day,' he said.
Christo reinforced that view, acknowledging the physical trade-off that comes with a dual-event campaign. 'If we play both categories, it means we accept that sometimes we are not 100% physically,' he noted.
Court Conditions and What Comes Next
Playing conditions at the New Delhi venue added another layer of complexity, with Christo noting significant variation between courts. He said the experience gained on Monday's court — however painful — could prove useful if he returns to it in later rounds. 'I could feel that at the end of the match, I was feeling more in my shots, which is probably something positive. I'll try better tomorrow,' Christo said.
Both Popovs remain in the singles draw and will look to regroup as the 2026 BWF World Championships continue through the week in New Delhi.
Point of View
Where elite players competing in both singles and doubles are routinely squeezed by logistical constraints. Tournament schedulers face genuine pressure to complete rounds on time, but when a player of Popov's calibre publicly questions fairness, it reflects a gap between athlete welfare commitments and on-ground implementation. The BWF has invested heavily in its wellness narrative; whether it reviews this scheduling decision will say something about whether that narrative has teeth.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Toma Popov criticise the BWF World Championships schedule?
Toma Popov said the tournament gave him insufficient recovery time between his singles and doubles matches on 17 August, leaving him physically underprepared for the doubles contest. He described the arrangement as 'not so fair' and suggested organisers should be asked to explain the decision.
Who did the Popov brothers lose to in the 2026 BWF World Championships doubles?
France's Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov were beaten by Japan's Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami in the men's doubles first round at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
Did Toma Popov use the schedule as an excuse for the loss?
Toma acknowledged the physical difficulty but did not attribute the defeat solely to the schedule. He identified Japan's dominance in the serve, return, and third-shot phase as the tactical reason France lost, and said both players gave their best on the day.
Are the Popov brothers still competing at the 2026 BWF World Championships?
Yes, both Christo and Toma Popov remain in the singles draw at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi and are expected to continue competing through the week.
Does competing in both singles and doubles reduce pressure on players?
Toma Popov rejected that idea, saying professionals compete to win in every match regardless of how many events they enter. Christo added that each match is treated independently, though both acknowledged that dual-event campaigns sometimes mean entering a court at less than full physical fitness.
