The French aren’t really expecting a revolution; even though the imminent European powerhouse have struck two Badminton World Championship golds, the first in mixed doubles through Thom Giquel and Delphine Delrue and then in men’s singles via Alex Lanier.
Unprecedented in the shy sport with too many protocols, the French came prepared with champagne bottles.
“I’ll probably walk on the road in France and nobody will notice. But there could be a little storm for a few weeks,” Lanier, who took 50 minutes to defeat Japanese compulsive retriever Kodai Naraoka, said.
The Frenchman, who was first identified by scouts from Normandy because he looked more muscular than others his age, used a flex to rattle Kodai too: the Popeye with sailor parents from rural seaside France ran in the eyeline of the Japanese and flaunted his abs. A 21-11, 21-11 scoreline followed, and Kodai told the Japanese media he was intimidated already.
“It’s genetics because my parents are sailors, but also my hard work in breaking limits of physicality has been important,” Lanier says, having outrun the peak runner Kodai. “Frankly, I can play one more game.”
The Delhi Worlds also witnessed the usually reticent badminton stars offer more than a peek into their most elite moments of excellence, with top players opening up on rivalries, family, food, pressure and even psychology.
Mixed doubles champ Giquel would speak of the Wakanda celebration he had promised his niece. Giquel-Delrue would inflict heartbreak on World No.1 Chinese, Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping, winning 22-20, 19-21, 21-15.
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The first big pair they ever scalped had been Yuta Watanabe and Higashino in a Super 100. But even as recently as last Sunday, Giquel-Delrue had said Danish pairs ranked higher than them were better. A world title will flip the self-perception. “Nobody would be waiting for us at airports. There’s so many sports in France,” Giquel would say.
The French travel with a multicultural support staff comprising French, Danes, Lithuanians and even Icelanders, and trained simulating the slow conditions. They are also cognizant about being a nascent powerhouse.
“We focus on not overtraining. Because we are not China. Where if anyone rips an ACL, they can just get in another,” French coach Kestuis Naviklas said.
After hours
The other country with two titles was Korea as An Se Young demolished Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14. The Korean would later get invited by the Chinese media where bronze medallist Wang Zhi Yi, whom she had beaten in the semis, would engage in playful banter – another first for a World Championships revelling in the freedom with which players interacted with opponents.
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“What should I do to defeat you?” Wang would ask An Se-young, who has an intimidating head-to-head against her. “You should work hard,” the Korean would answer.
“Do you mean to say I don’t work hard already?” Wang would retort as both burst into laughter as the ice was broken between the two rivals.
Earlier, An had lauded the Delhi crowd that screamed vociferously for the all-conquering World No.1.
“Lot of people were supporting me which gave me energy,” she would say, thanking returning coach Park Joo Bong with “It’s an honour to be coached by a legend.”
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The Chinese were at a risk of returning without a title for the first time since 1983 after the first four finals were done. But men’s doubles pair Wang Chang and Liang Weikeng pulled one back. Wang was in terrific form prancing around the court, outdoing Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik playing their last tournament together. The 21-17, 21-16 win gave the Chinese their first world title.
“It’s the best day of my life,” a pumped up Wang said. “Like a dream.”
The Chinese, who failed to make singles finals, had also gone down in women’s doubles, losing to Korean Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee. It brought Korea the title they had last won 31 years ago after defeating Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15.
The Koreans defended until the moment they would pull out a kill.
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“The Chinese are so good at attack that we decided to fall back on defence and keep the shuttle inside the court,” Baek would say. “We have been eating butter chicken and naan, and will celebrate later in the evening.”
Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, who received their bronze medals, vowed to find solutions to beating the Chinese. For the moment though, a celebration might take place in Hyderabad though Treesa enjoyed the breakthrough with a banana cookie ice-cream as the Worlds drew to a close with several unexpected medallists.
