One Canadian player is putting the nation on the map when it comes to badminton.
Markham, Ont., native Victor Lai took home a bronze medal at the badminton world championships in Paris over the weekend, becoming the first-ever Canadian to win a medal at the event.
The 20-year-old Lai secured the medal after a loss to world number-one and eventual gold medal winner, Shi Yu Qi of China, in the semifinals. Since both losers of the semifinal earn bronze medals, Lai did not have to play an additional match to wind up on the podium.
This came just weeks after Lai secured a gold medal at the Junior Pan American Games.
“I think I got a lot of confidence from the summer, from past tournaments, and it feels good to be the underdog,” Lai said after the tournament. “I don’t have much pressure agai