At 16 years old, French badminton player Mady Sow is a rising figure in French badminton, heading into the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, where tournament badminton matches run from November 1 to November 5. A native of Seine-Saint-Denis and a left-hander standing 1.90 meters tall, Sow enters the international competition following a bronze medal finish at the U19 World Junior Championships in mid-October.

From Early Club Training to European Titles in Under-17 and Under-19 Categories

Sow’s journey with a racquet began at age five when his parents gave him a starter kit. He developed through clubs in Gagny, Noisy-le-Grand, and Aulnay-sous-Bois before joining VGA Saint-Maur, where he has trained for a year alongside the club’s elite group. He also trains at the CREPS Pôle France in Bordeaux. Vincent Nicli, the sports manager and coach at VGA Saint-Maur, noted that the teenager secured the U17 European title in 2025 followed by the U19 European crown, placing his career trajectory alongside the fastest progressions in the history of the sport.

Facing World Number One Christo Popov in Top 12 Interclub Competition

On October 3, Sow faced Christo Popov during a Top 12 match in the top tier of the French interclub championship. Sow dropped the opening set before taking the second in a tight finish against Popov, who became the first French men’s singles player to reach world number one after winning the Internationaux de France in Tremblay on October 25. Popov ultimately secured the interclub victory in three sets, winning 15-9, 14-16, 15-10, while Nicli observed that the teenager competed evenly during several high-level rallies.

Preparation at INSEP Alongside World Champions and Stars Like Alex Lanier

Sow benefits from a dynamic in French badminton that features Christo Popov, his brother Toma Junior Popov, and world champion Alex Lanier. Training periodically at INSEP alongside Lanier, Sow acknowledged initial intimidation that gave way to valuable sparring experience. While acknowledging the physical stature of Danish star Viktor Axelsen as a point of reference due to their shared height of 1.94 meters, Sow prefers to draw tactical elements from multiple athletes rather than modeling his game after a single competitor.

Chasing Gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar

Ranked around 230th globally in senior competition, Sow aims to reach the tournaments of the main circuit around age 18. For now, his immediate focus rests on the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, a host city carrying profound personal resonance since his father is of Senegalese origin. With the badminton schedule concluding on November 5, the young French prospect pursues the top step of the podium in his first major multi-sport Olympic experience.