New Delhi, India: Alex Lanier has written his name into French badminton history, becoming the country’s first men’s singles world champion after a commanding victory over Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the 2026 BWF World Championships final.
The 21-year-old Frenchman produced a near-flawless performance on Sunday, defeating Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 to capture the biggest title of his career and complete a historic week in New Delhi.
Seeded ninth at the tournament, Lanier had already become the first French men’s singles player to reach a World Championships semifinal and final. He went one step further on championship day, overwhelming the 10th-seeded Naraoka in straight games to become France’s first men’s singles world champion since the tournament began in 1977.
Alex Lanier Dominates Kodai Naraoka in World Championships Final
The final was expected to feature a battle between Lanier’s attacking ability and Naraoka’s renowned defensive patience, but the Frenchman never allowed the Japanese star to settle into his preferred rhythm.
Lanier controlled the opening game from an early stage, applying pressure with his pace and attacking badminton while remaining disciplined during the longer rallies.
Naraoka struggled to find a way back into the contest as Lanier pulled steadily clear and took the first game 21-11.
There was no drop in intensity after the change of ends.
Lanier continued to dictate play in the second game, keeping Naraoka under pressure and preventing the Japanese player from turning the match into the grinding physical contest he often prefers.
Another 21-11 score completed a remarkably convincing World Championships final victory.
- Champion: Alex Lanier of France
- Runner-up: Kodai Naraoka of Japan
- Score: 21-11, 21-11
- Event: Men’s singles final
- Achievement: First French men’s singles World Championships title
Lanier Becomes France’s First Men’s Singles World Champion
The victory represents a breakthrough moment for French badminton.
Since the World Championships were first staged in 1977, no French men’s singles player had reached the semifinal or final before Lanier’s run in New Delhi.
The 21-year-old did not simply break those barriers — he finished the tournament by standing on top of the podium.
His achievement also came on the same championship weekend that French mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue made history by becoming France’s first senior badminton world champions.
Lanier’s men’s singles triumph adds another landmark result and provides further evidence of France’s rapid rise in international badminton.
Lanier Avenges 2023 Defeat to Naraoka
The final also carried personal significance for Lanier.
The two players had previously met at the 2023 Sudirman Cup, where Naraoka came away with the victory.
Three years later, Lanier reversed that result on the biggest individual stage in badminton, and he did so in emphatic fashion.
The straight-game victory gave Lanier not only a measure of revenge, but also the first senior world championship of his career.
Watch Alex Lanier vs Kodai Naraoka Highlights
Watch highlights of Alex Lanier against Kodai Naraoka in the 2026 BWF World Championships men’s singles final:
Kodai Naraoka Falls Short in Second World Championships Final
For Naraoka, the defeat marked another painful near miss at the World Championships.
The Japanese player also reached the men’s singles final in 2023, when he pushed Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn to three games before losing 21-18, 18-21, 7-21.
His return to the final in New Delhi provided another opportunity to follow in the footsteps of former Japanese great Kento Momota and become a men’s singles world champion.
Lanier, however, proved too strong on Sunday.
Naraoka leaves New Delhi with another silver medal, while Lanier returns to France as a history-making world champion.
Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang Deny Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Second World Title
There was disappointment for Malaysia in the men’s doubles final as Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik fell short in their attempt to reclaim the world title.
China’s world No. 3 pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang defeated the Malaysian world No. 4 combination 21-17, 21-16 to capture their first World Championships gold medal.
Aaron and Soh entered the final with confidence after eliminating defending champions and world No. 1 pair Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea in the semifinals.
They were unable to reproduce the same level against Liang and Wang, who controlled the decisive stages of both games.
- Champions: Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang of China
- Runners-up: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia
- Score: 21-17, 21-16
- Event: Men’s doubles final
Aaron-Soh Miss Chance to Become Two-Time World Champions
The defeat prevented Aaron and Soh from reclaiming the championship they famously won in Tokyo in 2022.
That victory made them Malaysia’s first senior badminton world champions and remains one of the biggest achievements in the country’s badminton history.
Four years later, they returned to the World Championships final with an opportunity to become champions for a second time.
They ultimately had to settle for silver, but the result gives Aaron and Soh a complete collection of World Championships medals.
- 2022: Gold medal
- 2023: Bronze medal
- 2026: Silver medal
Their record of one gold, one silver and one bronze further underlines how consistently Aaron and Soh have performed at badminton’s biggest individual championship.
What Happens Next for Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik?
The result also leaves an intriguing question surrounding the future of the Malaysian partnership.
Before the World Championships, Aaron and Soh indicated that head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi had told them New Delhi could be their final tournament together unless they won the world title.
They did not capture the championship, but their run all the way to the final — including a straight-game semifinal victory over world No. 1 Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae — demonstrated that the former world champions remain capable of competing with the best men’s doubles pairs in badminton.
Whether that performance is enough to persuade the coaching team to continue the partnership remains to be seen.
No final decision on their long-term pairing has been confirmed, making their future one of the most interesting questions for Malaysian badminton after the World Championships.
Watch Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik vs Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang
Watch highlights of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik against Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in the 2026 BWF World Championships men’s doubles final:
Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang End China’s Eight-Year Wait
For Liang and Wang, the victory delivered China its first men’s doubles World Championships title in eight years.
China had not won the event since Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen captured the championship in 2018.
Liang and Wang therefore ended a lengthy wait for one of badminton’s traditional powerhouse nations.
The title also represents a major step forward for the Chinese pair, who had previously won bronze at the 2023 World Championships.
Three years later, they upgraded that medal to gold.
Liang-Wang Complete Strong World Championships Campaign
Liang and Wang reached the final after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan 21-18, 21-14 in the semifinals.
Against Aaron and Soh, they maintained that momentum and remained particularly effective during the closing stages of each game.
The Malaysian pair stayed competitive, but Liang and Wang repeatedly found the extra points needed whenever the games approached their decisive phase.
The 21-17, 21-16 victory completed their progression from World Championships bronze medalists in 2023 to world champions in 2026.
Historic Day for French Badminton in New Delhi
While China celebrated the return of its men’s doubles title, one of the biggest badminton news stories from championship Sunday belonged to France.
Lanier arrived in New Delhi as one of Europe’s most exciting young men’s singles players, but he leaves as a world champion and national sporting history-maker.
Becoming the first Frenchman to reach a World Championships men’s singles semifinal would already have made this a breakthrough tournament.
Reaching the final pushed the achievement even further.
Winning it 21-11, 21-11 against a player of Naraoka’s quality transformed the run into something unprecedented for French badminton.
Alex Lanier Reaches the Top at Just 21
Perhaps the most striking element of Lanier’s championship is his age.
At only 21, the Frenchman has already captured the biggest individual title available in badminton outside the Olympic Games.
His victory also offers France another elite men’s singles player capable of competing regularly against the traditional Asian and Danish powers that have dominated the discipline for decades.
New Delhi may ultimately be remembered as the tournament where Lanier moved from being one of badminton’s most promising young players to a genuine world champion.
2026 World Championships Produce New Men’s Champions
The men’s events in New Delhi ultimately produced two new sets of world champions.
Alex Lanier defeated Kodai Naraoka to become the first French men’s singles world champion, while Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang restored China to the top of the men’s doubles podium for the first time since 2018.
For Japan, Naraoka was forced to settle for his second World Championships silver medal.
For Malaysia, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik missed the opportunity to add a second world title but completed another remarkable medal-winning campaign.
And for France, Lanier’s name will now permanently occupy a unique place in the history books.
At 21 years old, Alex Lanier is a badminton world champion — and the first French men’s singles player ever to achieve it.
