Alex Lanier in men’s singles final, proof of France’s growing stature in game

French badminton player Alex Lanier made history by reaching the men's singles final at the World Championships, becoming the first Frenchman to achieve this feat. Hailing from the coast of Normandy, Lanier grew up around cold winds and has a father who was a weatherman for recreational and competitive sailors. He defeated Canada's Victor Lai 21-16, 13-21, and 14-21 in the semi-finals, setting up a clash with Japan's Kodai Naraoka in the finals.

The Indira Gandhi indoor stadium is well-suited to Naraoka's retrieving style, which has earned him a silver medal at the World Championships. For Lanier, this is his first-ever final, and he will need to draw on his skills from golf and chess to succeed. Former Danish badminton medallist Joachim Fischer Nielsen, who is covering the event as a TV journalist, notes that the surge of French winners is a challenging development for the Danes, who have traditionally dominated European badminton.

The French are also benefiting from top-notch coaching, with Lanier's coaches being Lithuanian Kestuis Naviklas and Icelandic mixed doubles expert Tinna Ludvigsen. Lanier himself remains calm and focused, acknowledging that he is physically prepared but mentally not yet thinking about the significance of the win.