2025 European U17 Championships men’s doubles champions Rayan Benaissa and Mady Sow talk about their success while France achieve historic results in Lanzarote.

The 2025 European U17 Championships finished last Sunday and, among all the many nations attending, it would be fair to say that France was the most successful. They won the team event – their first time winning the European U17 Team Championships title – and French players went on to win four out of the five titles in the individual event.

It is clear that France is doing something right when it comes to developing its young talent. Their results keep improving not only at a senior level, but also, as we saw in Lanzarote, through their junior players. Among them were Rayan Benaissa and Mady Sow, the top seeded pair in men’s doubles.

“It was a good match, and it was also fun. I’m proud of us,” Benaissa said after their semifinal win against England’s George Clare/Sajan Senthuran, eighth seeds.

“It's fun to play together to stop the pressure,” Sow added about reaching the final together. The last time they played as a pair internationally was late spring at the YONEX 3 Borders 2025, where they claimed the title. They have played in several tournaments this year, just with different partners.

On court, the French duo looked relaxed, often smiling at each other for encouragement, showing compatibility not just on court but also off it. When asked about it, they both smile. “We're best friends. That's why we're always joking,” Benaissa pointed out.

​​​​In the finals, both players had a packed schedule, each playing two matches: their men’s doubles final together, Sow then facing teammate Lenny Hubert in men’s singles, and Benaissa partnering with Manon Heitzmann in mixed doubles. Sow showed ambition ahead of the finals. “We want to win the final together. And also his [Benaissa’s] next doubles and my singles. It's very good for the French team. And for us, it's very good too.”

Their game is youthful, full of energy and smiles of complicity between them, yet also showing great skill at their level. A combination that helped them succeed in Lanzarote. This shows strong potential for the future of these two young players and for the entire French team.

“La Marseillaise” played four times on finals day. Mixed doubles and men’s singles were both all-French finals, and France also won the titles in men’s doubles and women’s doubles – the latter won by Melia Beule and Manon Heitzmann, who also faced each other in the mixed doubles final. “The French team is a strong team,” Benaissa affirmed.

France left home with a total of seven medals in this event, plus the event team trophy, where they defeated nine-time champions Denmark 3-1. Sow admitted the pride he feels in being part of such a strong squad. “It's very special to be in this French team and to represent our nation. That's a pleasure.”

​​​​​​We’ve also seen France rise at a senior level in recent years. The country hosted the Olympics just last year, together with a major investment in talent development. Today, France has two men’s singles players in the world’s top 10, Christo Popov and Alex Lanier, with Toma Junior Popov not far behind at number fifteen. In mixed doubles, Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue are currently in the world’s top 5. Most recently, Christo Popov reached the final at the Super 750 French Open, a historic result for French badminton. “The level is growing. It’s incredible to see our country rising like this,” Benaissa said when speaking about the older players leading the way.

Sow and Benaissa travel to different countries and meet other talented junior players from across Europe and beyond, but there is something special about the European Championships. “It’s very cool to see all of the nations in this tournament… a lot of friends, because we know everybody. Danes, Germans, Portuguese, Spanish… So, it's very cool. It's fun to be together,” Sow said. “It's a dream to be here,” Benaissa added.

Before the final, Sow showed their big ambitions: “We want to win.” And so they did.

Benaissa, Sow, and the rest of the French team showed that France’s future looks bright, with established senior players leading the way and a new wave of talents rising behind them. It will be exciting to see how this develops in the coming years.