India Open: Victor Lai, Brian Yang Deliver for Canada
Canada’s Victor Lai found comfort in compatriot Brian Yang cheering him on from the stands as he was locked in battle against Toma Junior Popov on Day 1 of the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2026.
· Tanmoy Mookherjee
Lai eked out a 21-12 16-21 21-8 win over his French opponent, while moments earlier Yang had caused the upset of the day dispatching fourth seed Chou Tien Chen in straight games 21-19 21-11.
Canada’s new crop of badminton players are steadily adding pedigree against their names through consistent performances across categories. Lai’s bronze medal at the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025 was just the ballast it needed to pull it into the right direction.
“It was a huge thing,” Yang said of Lai’s breakthrough. “He's the first Canadian to get a medal at the BWF World Championships, and it was his, so it was like everything about it was just unbelievable. Since then, a lot of people are putting more respect on Canada's name in badminton.”