European Leg Review: Nakade’s Rare Feat
Among the winners of the Orleans Masters 2026, one name stood out – Sumire Nakade.
· BWF STAFF
The Japanese was playing her first World Tour event – indeed, her first international Open event, for her only previous experience outside the domestic circuit has been the 2025 FISU World University Games. That Nakade, in partnership with the more experienced Miyu Takahashi, would go on to win the women’s doubles title must count as a remarkable feat.
Nakade and Takahashi were in their first event together; on the way to the final they beat pairs like Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari, Lauren Lam/Allison Lee and Rachel Allessya Rose/Febu Setianingrum. The final, against Lin Chih-Chun/Yang Chu Yu, was a tight battle all the way, with Nakade playing with the confidence of someone far more experienced. The Japanese would eke out a 22-20 12-21 21-18 win.
Meanwhile, other standout names at the Orleans Masters included Alex Lanier, Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue, Nozomi Okuhara and men’s doubles winners Hu Ke Yuan/Lin Xiang Yi.