Who will succeed Anders ANTONSEN and AN Se Young?

From October 20 to 25, Tremblay-en-France will host for the first time the Yonex IFB, an unmissable event on the world badminton circuit! As the tournament approaches, the main favorites of the singles tables gradually stand out. Their recent successes, their consistency over the season and their results in France at the last edition make them serious contenders for the title this year.

Simple hommes: Christo POPOV dreams of a coronation at home

Among the men, many competitors have strong arguments to aim for the title! Christo POPOV (n°5) is one of the big favourites this year. Indeed, the Frenchman has had the best season of his career, with titles at the Japan Open, the German Open and the European Championships. Winner of his first Super 750 in Tokyo, the Frenchman, who reached the final of the French International last year, will come back this time with the ambition to win a second one at home!

But the path to the title will be far from simple for the Fosséen. On the rise, LIN Chun-Yi (no.) could shake up the tricolor plans. Beaten by Christo POPOV in the first round of the Yonex IFB last year, the Taipei player has changed dimension with victories at the India Open and All England. His last two tournaments have resulted in back-to-back semi-finals. With this newfound confidence, he could well take his revenge in Paris!

Finally, Kunlavut VITIDSARN (no. 2, Thailand) will also be monitored. Winner of the Malaysia Open in January, regularly present on the podiums this season and third at Yonex IFB last year, the Thai has all the qualities to invite himself into the fight for the title!

Winner of the Yonex IFB 2025 in men’s singles, Anders ANTONSEN (no. 4, Denmark), will however not be the favourite this year! The Dane is going through a more complicated season, far from the summits he experienced last year. Can he get back to his best level and defend his title at Tremblay-en-France? Answer in October!

Women’s Singles: AN Se Young as the favorite, the competition ready to seize its opportunity

The big favorite in the women’s competition is unquestionably AN Se Young (No.). The South Korean has dominated the world circuit since the beginning of the year, with four titles won in six tournaments, including the Indonesia Open and the Malaysia Open, two Super 1000 competitions. Already crowned in women’s singles at Yonex IFB after a masterful two-set final in 2025, she will arrive this year as the player to beat.

The competition will be tough! CHEN Yu Fei (n°4, China), still looking for a first title in the Super 750 this season, impresses by his consistency! In ten tournaments, she has always played at least the semi-finals and now hopes to go to the end to win a title at these French Internationals.

As for Akane YAMAGUCHI (n°2, Japan), she also asserts herself as a serious contender, with three titles won recently in China, Australia and Thailand. Regularly present in the last squares of competitions and quarter-finalist of the Yonex IFB last year, she is to be watched very closely at this 2026 edition!