Victor Lai
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| Born | 19 December 2004 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's singles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career record | 115 wins, 58 losses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 13 (10 March 2026) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current ranking | 13 (10 March 2026) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BWF profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Victor Lai (born 19 December 2004) is a Canadian badminton player. At the 2025 BWF World Championships, he became the first ever player from Canada to win a medal, securing a bronze in the men's singles event and marking a major milestone for Canadian badminton.[3][4]
Career
At the 2025 BWF World Championships, Victor Lai made history by winning the bronze medal in men’s singles, becoming the first Canadian ever to medal at the event. His run included a comeback quarterfinal victory over former world champion Loh Kean Yew before narrowly losing in the semifinals to world No. 1 Shi Yuqi.
At the Super 750 India Open in 2026, Lai reached the semifinals of the men’s singles event. He defeated Chi Yu-jen in the quarterfinals in three games, 21–18, 17–21, 21–15, to advance to the final four. His run ended in the semifinals against Lin Chun-yi, who later won the tournament. The result marked Lai’s first semifinal appearance at a BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.
In his Super 1000 All England Open Debut in March 2026, Lai once again reached the semi-finals in the historical tournament, becoming the first Canadian to reach such a milestone since women's singles player Wendy Carter achieved an All England semi-finalist in 1978.[5]
Achievements
BWF World Championships Results
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Adidas Arena, Paris, France | Shi Yuqi | 21–13, 20–22, 16–21 | Bronze | [4] |
Pan Am Championships Results
Men's singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Videna Poli 2, Lima, Peru | Joshua Nguyen | 21–9, 21–18 | Gold |
Junior Pan American Games Results
Boys' singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | SND Stadium, Asunción, Paraguay | Deivid Silva | 21–6, 23–21 | Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | SND Stadium, Asunción, Paraguay | Rachel Chan | Davi Silva Juliana Viana Vieira |
21–23, 21–14, 19–21 | Silver |
Pan Am Junior Championships Results
Boys' singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hotel Mundo Imperial, Acapulco, Mexico | Joshua Nguyen | 13–21, 13–21 | Silver |
BWF World Tour (1 runner-up)
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[6] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[7]
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Canada Open | Super 300 | Kenta Nishimoto | 13–21, 14–21 | Runner-up | [8][9] |
BWF International Challenge/Series (1 title, 3 runners-up)
Men's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Guatemala International | Kevin Cordón | 13–21, 11–21 | Runner-up | [10] |
| 2023 | Canadian International | Brian Yang | 15–21, 12–21 | Runner-up | [11] |
| 2024 | Canadian International | Brian Yang | 14–21, 8–21 | Runner-up | [12] |
| 2025 | Canadian International | Brian Yang | 21–14, 21–15 | Winner |
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
BWF Junior International (3 titles)
Boys' singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Guatemala Junior International | Yeison Del Cid | 25–23, 21–11 | Winner | [13] |
| 2021 | Portuguese Junior International | Paul Tournefier | 21–13, 21–13 | Winner | [14] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Guatemala Junior International | Sophia Nong | Antonio Ortiz Ana González |
21–18, 21–15 | Winner | [13] |
- BWF Junior International Series tournament
- BWF Junior Future Series tournament
References
- ^ "YONEX Next Gen Team". Badminton Canada. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Player: Victor LAI". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ Goh, Z. K. (29 August 2025). "BWF World Championships 2025: Loh Kean Yew exits in quarter-finals shock against Victor Lai". Olympics. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ a b Sukumar, Dev (29 August 2025). "Victor Lai Makes History for Canada". Badminton World Federation.
- ^ "All England: Canada, France celebrate milestones". Badminton World Federation. 7 March 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Liew, Vincent (6 July 2025). "Kenta Nishimoto Wins 2025 Canada Open". BadmintonPlanet.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Canada Open: Milestone Win for Manami Suizu". Badminton World Federation. 7 July 2025. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Champions at Guatemala International Series 2021". Badminton Pan America. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Champions in Canada – Pan Am Circuit 2023". Badminton Pan America. 12 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Winners in Canada – Pan Am Circuit 2024". Badminton Pan America. 10 December 2024. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Guatemala Junior International 2021 – Winners". Badminton Pan America. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "Catlyn Kruus and Ramona Üprus won the tournament in Portugal!". Triiton (in Estonian). 5 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
External links
- Victor Lai at BWFBadminton.com
- Victor Lai at BWFWorldTourFinals.BWFBadminton.com