Badminton Worlds 2026: Alex Lanier, An Se Young clinch singles crowns in Delhi
Synopsis
France rewrote its badminton history in Delhi as Thom Gicquel–Delphine Delrue and Alex Lanier delivered two golds in a single edition. An Se Young reclaimed the women's crown, Korea broke a 31-year doubles drought, and China's unbroken title streak since 1983 survived through Liang and Wang. A tournament of records — and a clear generational shift on the world stage.
Key Takeaways
Alex Lanier beat Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 to become France's first men's singles world champion.
An Se Young reclaimed the women's crown, defeating Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14.
Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee ended Korea's 31-year women's doubles wait; Lee, at 32 years 70 days , is the oldest women's doubles world champion.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue won France's first mixed doubles gold, upsetting China's top seeds in three games.
China's title-in-every-edition streak since 1983 continued via Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in men's doubles.
India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand collected women's doubles bronze.
France's Alex Lanier and Korea's An Se Young lifted the singles titles at the BWF World Championships 2026, which concluded on Sunday, 23 August at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The final day delivered a rush of records, with France collecting two golds and Korea ending a 31-year wait in women's doubles.
France's historic double
Reigning bronze medallists Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue stunned top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China 22-20, 19-21, 21-15 in one hour and 18 minutes to claim France's first-ever mixed doubles gold. Hours later, Alex Lanier outclassed Japan's Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 in just 50 minutes, making France only the second European nation to bag more than one gold in a single edition.
An Se Young reclaims the crown
World number one An Se Young regained the women's singles title by beating defending champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14. An turned the opening game with four straight points from 17-17, then surged from 11-10 to 21-14 in the second to seal her second world crown.
Korea end 31-year women's doubles drought
Third seeds Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee upset Chinese top seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15 to end Korea's 31-year wait in women's doubles — their last title came in 1995. At 32 years and 70 days, Lee also became the oldest women's doubles world champion. India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand collected their bronze medals.
China's streak survives in men's doubles
With China's record of winning at least one title at every edition since 1983 on the line, third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang beat former champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia 21-16, 21-17 to keep the streak alive. It was their first world title as a pair.
Lanier's decisive surge
Trailing 7-9 in the opening game of the men's final, Lanier reeled off 13 of the next 14 points to seize control. In the second, the Frenchman closed with seven straight points from 14-11 to be crowned France's first men's singles world champion.
Final results
Men's singles: 9-Alex Lanier (FRA) bt 10-Kodai Naraoka (JPN) 21-11, 21-11
Women's singles: 1-An Se Young (KOR) bt 2-Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) 21-17, 21-14
Men's doubles: 3-Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (CHN) bt 4-Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) 21-16, 21-17
Women's doubles: 3-Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee (KOR) bt 1-Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning (CHN) 21-15, 21-15
Mixed doubles: 5-Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (FRA) bt 1-Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (CHN) 22-20, 19-21, 21-15
A packed Delhi crowd cheered the Indian bronze for Treesa and Gayatri, while An Se Young emerged as the day's most popular draw, reaffirming her status as the world's best. The 2026 edition closes with France's breakthrough, Korea's revival, and China's unbroken streak defining the storylines.
Point of View
Indonesian, or Korean preserve — signal that European investment in the sport is finally translating into podium finishes. Yet China's unbroken streak since 1983, extended through a first-time doubles pair, remains the sport's most telling structural stat. For India, a lone Treesa–Gayatri bronze on home soil underlines how thin the depth still is beyond the marquee names.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the BWF World Championships 2026 men's singles title?
France's Alex Lanier won the men's singles title, beating Japan's Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 in just 50 minutes at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. He is France's first-ever men's singles world champion.
Who won the women's singles gold at BWF Worlds 2026?
Korea's An Se Young reclaimed the women's singles world title, defeating defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-17, 21-14. It was her second world crown.
How many gold medals did France win at the 2026 World Championships?
France won two golds — mixed doubles through Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, and men's singles through Alex Lanier. This made France only the second European nation to win more than one gold in a single edition.
Did India win any medal at the BWF World Championships 2026?
Yes, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won a bronze medal in women's doubles. They received their medals on the final day in New Delhi.
How long has it been since Korea last won the women's doubles world title?
Korea's last women's doubles world title came in 1995, making the 2026 win by Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee a 31-year wait. Lee, at 32 years and 70 days, also became the oldest women's doubles world champion.
