PARIS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- When the Eiffel Tower transformed into a shuttlecock, its feather-like silhouette lit up the giant screen inside Paris's Adidas Arena.
The 2025 Badminton World Championships are now underway, and one year after hosting Olympic badminton events, the arena is once again in the global spotlight. France is not only building on its Olympic legacy but also reshaping the world's badminton landscape.
On Thursday, the clash between home favorite Christo Popov and men's singles top seed Shi Yuqi of China electrified the crowd. Deafening cheers reverberated throughout the venue. Remarkably, even on days without French athletes competing, the stands have remained full, reflecting the country's growing passion for the sport.
Local spectator Louka Da Silva Macedo called badminton "France's second most popular racket sport after tennis" and expressed confidence that players like the Popov brothers and Alex Lanier could deliver future breakthroughs.
The French squad is widely recognized as one of the sport's fastest-rising teams. In the latest world rankings, both Popov brothers and Lanier are ranked in the top 15 in men's singles, with Lanier as high as No. 7. France also boasts world-class pairs in mixed doubles and women's doubles, giving the team the strength to challenge Denmark's traditional dominance in Europe.
Mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue made history Friday as the first French players to win a medal at the World Championships, after ousting China's Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi 21-19, 21-18 in the quarterfinals.
French player Toma Junior Popov attributed France's progress to the development of a professional system. "In recent years, France has significantly increased funding for badminton and strengthened the national team's training program," Popov told Xinhua. "Players now have access to physical trainers, mental coaches and full support staff," he added.
Former badminton star Pi Hongyan, who now resides in France, highlighted the importance of coaching expertise. "The French team has invited some of Europe's best coaches, including Fernando Rivas, who guided Olympic champion Carolina Marin. They've also invested heavily in coach education. The caliber of French coaches has improved substantially, and the talent identification system has become more mature, producing young players who are already making their mark," she explained.
While elite success garners headlines, France's fast-expanding badminton community provides the foundation.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Cyrille Gombrowicz, national technical director of the French Badminton Federation, said, "France began developing badminton about 30 years ago. Club membership hovered around 180,000 for years. Since 2020, that figure has surged to 242,000 with a 15 percent growth following the Paris Olympics."
Clubs form the backbone of grassroots development. For an annual fee of 200 to 300 euros, members receive free shuttlecocks, access to training facilities and two to three weekly coaching sessions. Many clubs also run a "host" system, pairing beginners with designated staff to provide introductory training and coordinate court schedules.
"France now has around 2,000 badminton clubs," Gombrowicz added. "We operate a rating system for clubs, with local governments offering subsidies based on ratings, which helps keep fees affordable."
He emphasized that hosting the Olympics and World Championships has amplified the sport's visibility. Coupled with strong player performances, this momentum is drawing more people into the game. "Our short-term goal is to win a gold medal at the Olympics or World Championships. Long-term, we aim to rank among the top three in at least three of the five individual events, giving us the strength to challenge powerhouses like China."
Ambitious as these goals may seem, a new badminton force has indeed taken root beneath the Eiffel Tower. ■
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