In the quarterfinals of the World Badminton Championship taking place in New Delhi, Alex Lanier lost the first set (19-21) and was trailing 3-11 in the second set while playing against the world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
However, the 21-year-old Frenchman, coached by Kęstutis Navickas who works with the French national team, created an unexpected turning point in the match.
Eventually, A. Lanier won the second set 21:16, and then the third set also 21:16. This way he reached the semifinals of the World Championship.
The 2025 European champion from France admitted after the match that he had lost himself when the titled opponent from Thailand, a finalist of the last three World Championships and the 2023 champion, was leading 11:3 in the second set.
“Obviously, my mentality had dropped. I was scared at the end of the first set, I admit that. And then it continued in the second…”, said A. Lanier, who is now ranked tenth in the world.
“The flames flared up after the break in the second set, when he was down 3:11. He heard his coach, Lithuanian Kęstutis Navickas, urging him to play without hesitation, to leave everything on the court. The message was received loud and clear,” described the turning point by “L’Equipe”.
“Something clicked in my head. I hadn’t played well until then,” said A. Lanier, thanking the coaches who inspired him – both K. Navickas and the French doubles team coach Tinna Ludvigsen.
By winning this match, he became the first French badminton player to secure a World Championship medal in men’s singles, as there are no matches for third place in these competitions.
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