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Alex Lanier made history on Sunday by becoming the first Frenchman to win the men's singles World crown as he defeated Japan's Kodai Naraoka in straight games at the 2026 BWF World Championships here.
Lanier dominated the final at the Indra Gandhi Indoor Stadium, winning 21-11, 21-11 in just 50 minutes. The Frenchman started strongly and maintained a high tempo throughout the contest. His powerful attacking play and sharp court coverage kept Naraoka under constant pressure, preventing the Japanese shuttler from settling into his defensive game. Lanier took control of the opening game and wrapped it up 21-11. The second game unfolded in much the same way, with the Frenchman maintaining his dominance to seal another 21-11 win and clinch the title. Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei and Canada's Victor Lai won bronze medals after reaching the semifinals. Earlier, France's Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue created history by winning the mixed doubles title at the Championships, becoming the first French pair to claim the prestigious crown. The French duo defeated top-seeded Chinese pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping 22-20, 19-21, 21-15 in a thrilling final to secure the biggest title of their careers. Gicquel and Delrue started strongly by taking the opening game 22-20, but the Chinese pair fought back to level the contest after winning the second game 21-19. In the deciding game, the French pair held their composure under pressure and sealed the title with a 21-15 victory. Their gold medal ended a 17-year wait for a European pair to win the mixed doubles World Championships crown. (ANI)
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