Victor Lai arrives at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi with more attention on his shoulders than ever before, but the Canadian insists he is approaching the tournament with the mindset of a player who still has plenty to learn.
Lai's rapid rise has made him one of the biggest stories in men's singles. He won a historic bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships, becoming the first Canadian man to claim a medal in the event, before breaking into the world's top 10.
He then added another milestone by winning the Indonesia Open, becoming the first Canadian men's singles player to claim a BWF World Tour Super 1000 title.
Those achievements have transformed Lai's status in the sport, but he admits his mindset heading into last year's World Championships was very different.
Source: Badminton Pan America
Lai described his run in 2025 as feeling like he was "walking on clouds", allowing him to play with freedom and without the pressure of expectations. That mindset helped him produce some of the best badminton of his career.
This time, however, the circumstances are different.
With his ranking, recent results and growing reputation, Lai knows opponents will be far more prepared for him. He also understands that the pressure to deliver a strong result will be greater.
Rather than trying to recreate last year's run, Lai believes he needs to focus on adapting during matches and continuing to develop his game.
"I'm still learning," Lai said, reflecting the approach he intends to take in New Delhi.
The Canadian begins his campaign against South Korea's world No. 39 Jeon Hyeok Jin, but the draw becomes considerably tougher in the later rounds.
A potential quarter-final could see Lai face Indonesia's world No. 3 Jonatan Christie, while Thailand's world No. 2 Kunlavut Vitidsarn or France's world No. 5 Christo Popov could await in the semi-finals.
Popov is also one of the players attracting plenty of attention in New Delhi. The Frenchman is targeting his country's first-ever men's singles medal at the World Championships and believes the French contingent has the hunger to make history.
Popov could meet compatriot Alex Lanier in the last 16 before a potential quarter-final against Vitidsarn, the 2023 world champion.
His brother Toma Junior Popov, currently ranked world No. 15, is also part of the French challenge, giving the country another reason to be optimistic about its men's singles prospects.
A potential meeting between Lai and Christo Popov would offer a fascinating clash between two of the sport's rising stars. Both have already shown they can challenge the established names, raising the possibility of a major shake-up in the men's singles draw.
Source: China Daily
Defending champion Shi Yu Qi will be among those looking to prevent that from happening, but Lai's recent form means he can no longer be viewed as an outsider.
The women's singles competition, meanwhile, begins with South Korea's An Se Young as the clear favourite.
The reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 has continued to set the standard through her consistency and all-round game. Japan's world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi is expected to be her biggest threat, with a potential final between the two leading contenders likely to attract plenty of attention.
For Lai, however, the focus remains firmly on his own progression.
He has already made history for Canadian badminton, but New Delhi offers another opportunity to show how far he has come. The expectations may be greater this time, yet Lai appears ready to embrace the challenge without losing the humility that has helped drive his remarkable rise.
