Viktor Axelsen

Viktor Axelsen
Personal information
Country  Denmark
Born (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994
Odense, Denmark
Residence Valby, Denmark
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Years active 2010
Handedness Right
Men's singles
Career record 274 wins, 107 losses
Career title(s) 11
Highest ranking 1 (28 September 2017)
Current ranking 3 (27 September 2018[1])
BWF profile

Viktor Axelsen (born 4 January 1994) is a Danish badminton player. He was the 2010 World Junior Champion, beating Korea's Kang Ji-wook in the final to become the first ever European player to hold the title.[2] Axelsen earned his first European crown in May 2016 beating compatriot and defending champion Jan Ø. Jørgensen in the final.[3] At the 2017 BWF World Championships held in Glasgow, Scotland, he became the World Champion by beating Lin Dan in straight sets.[4]

Career

Junior career

Axelsen was born in Odense, and at six years old, his father introduced him to badminton, playing the games at the Odense badminton club.[5][6] His achievements begin by winning the boys' singles title in 2009 German Junior and also at the U-17 European Championships.[7] He made his debut in the senior international tournament at the 2009 Denmark Open played in the men's doubles event with Steffen Rasmussen.[5]

In January 2010, Axelsen who played from the qualification round manage to reach the finals at the Swedish International tournament, and finished as the runner-up after lost to Indra Bagus Ade Chandra in straight games 15–21, 12–21.[8] He competed at the World Junior Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, claimed the boys' singles title by defeated the No.1 seed, China’s Huang Yuxiang in the quarterfinals, India's B. Sai Praneeth in the semis and Kang Ji-wook of Korea in the final.[7] In October 2010 he claimed his first international senior title at the age of just sixteen, winning the Cyprus International. A few weeks later he entered his first Super Series event in singles, the Denmark Open 2010; making it through the qualifying stages before losing out to compatriot and eventual winner Jan Ø. Jørgensen in the second round.

2011

Axelsen secured gold at the European Junior Championships, defeating teammate Rasmus Fladberg 21–8 17–21 21–13 in the final. He took a silver medal at the 2011 BWF World Junior Championships,lost the title to Malaysia's Zulfadli Zulkiffli, coming in second place.

2012

In early 2012, Axelsen moved to Valby, in Copenhagen, and began to training at Brøndby elite center.[6] Axelsen finished runner up at the French Open in Paris, losing in the final to Daren Liew 18–21, 17–21. He also won a bronze medal at the 2012 European Badminton Championships losing the semi-final in three games to Sweden's Henri Hurskainen 21–18, 18–21, 17–21.

2014

Axelsen has won the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold in early month of 2014 beating China's Tian Houwei in the final 21–7, 16–21, 25–23. Axelsen won a bronze medal at the 2014 BWF World Championships and also a bronze medal again at the 2014 European Badminton Championships.

2015

Axelsen finished runners-up at the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold, Australian Open Super Series, and Japan Open Super Series, losing in the final to Srikanth Kidambi, Chen Long, and Lin Dan respectively.

2016

Axelsen earned his first European crown in May 2016 beating compatriot and defending champion Jan Ø. Jørgensen with 21–11, 21–16 in the final of the 25th edition of the European Championships, the first in France at La Roche sur Yon. He was also part of the historic Danish team winning the first ever Thomas Cup title in 2016. Axelsen won five of his six played singles matches in the team tournament, also against Indonesia's experienced player Tommy Sugiarto in the final (21–17, 21–18) setting up a dramatic and historic 3–2 victory for Denmark over Indonesia. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he won the bronze medal by beating Lin Dan from China 21–15, 12–21, 21–17. Misbun Sidek was his personal trainer 6 months before the Olympics in Rio.

2017

Axelsen won the World Championship in Glasgow in two sets against Lin Dan (22–20, 21–16) and became the third Danish Player to ever become a world champion (Peter Rasmussen 1997 in Glasgow & Flemming Delfs 1977 in Sweden). Axelsen, with a record of 4–3, is the only top twenty player to hold a winning record against Lin Dan, head-to-head.[9]

Axelsen followed up his victory in Glasgow by winning the finals of the Japan Open tournament in Tokyo over Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in three sets on September 23, propelling him to the top of the BWF World Rankings.[10]

2018

Axelsen won a match against Wang Tzu-wei in Chennai during the Premier Badminton League which was held on Jan 5, 2018 in Nehru Stadium.[11]Axelsen too participated in the European Men's Team Championship and got a gold after suffered from a foot injury. He represented Denmark in the 2018 Thomas & Uber Cup. In the group stage, he defeated Vladimir Malkov from Russia and Algeria. In the group stage match against Lee Chong Wei, he lost by two sets:9-21,19-21. In the quarter finals match against South Korea, he defeated Shon Wan Ho, but he lost to the favourite and former world no. 2, Kento Momota in semi finals. Denmark was then eliminated in semi finals but not the defending champion of 2016 Thomas & Uber Cup. In August 2018, Axelsen has unable to defend his world title where he was defeated by two-time World Champion and reigning Olympic Champion Chen Long in the quarter finals.

Achievements

Olympic Games

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2016 Riocentro – Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil China Lin Dan 15–21, 21–10, 21–17 Bronze

BWF World Championships

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2017 Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland China Lin Dan 22–20, 21–16 Gold
2014 Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark Malaysia Lee Chong Wei 9–21, 7–21 Bronze

European Championships

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2018 Palacio de Deportes de Huelva, Huelva, Spain England Rajiv Ouseph 21–8, 21–7 Gold
2017 Sydbank Arena, Kolding, Denmark Denmark Anders Antonsen 17–21, 16–21 Bronze
2016 Vendéspace, La Roche-sur-Yon, France Denmark Jan Ø. Jørgensen 21–11, 21–16 Gold
2014 Gymnastics Center, Kazan, Russia Denmark Jan Ø. Jørgensen 11–21, 13–21 Bronze
2012 Telenor Arena, Karlskrona, Sweden Sweden Henri Hurskainen 21–18, 18–21, 17–21 Bronze

BWF World Junior Championships

Boys' singles

Year enue Opponent Score Result
2011 Taoyuan Arena, Taipei, Taiwan Malaysia Zulfadli Zulkiffli 18–21, 21–9, 19–21 Silver
2010 Domo del Code Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico South Korea Kang Ji-Wook 21–19, 21–10 Gold

European Junior Championships

Boys' singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2011 Energia Areena, Vantaa, Finland Denmark Rasmus Fladberg 21–8, 17–21, 21–13 Gold

BWF World Tour

The BWF World Tour, announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[12] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour are divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[13]

Men's singles

Year Tournament Level Opponent Score Result
2018 Indonesia Open Super 1000 Japan Kento Momota 14–21, 9–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2018 Malaysia Masters Super 500 Japan Kenta Nishimoto 21–13, 21–23, 21–18 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion

BWF Superseries

The BWF Superseries, launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007, is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries has two levels: Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries features twelve tournaments around the world, which introduced since 2011, with successful players invited to the Superseries Finals held at the year end.

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2017 BWF Super Series Finals Malaysia Lee Chong Wei 19–21, 21–19, 21–15 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2017 China Open China Chen Long 16–21, 21–14, 13–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2017 Japan Open Malaysia Lee Chong Wei 21–14, 19–21, 21–14 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2017 India Open Chinese Taipei Chou Tien-chen 21–13, 21–10 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2016 BWF Super Series Finals China Tian Houwei 21–14, 6–21, 21–17 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2016 India Open Japan Kento Momota 15–21, 18–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2015 BWF Super Series Finals Japan Kento Momota 15–21, 12–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2015 Japan Open China Lin Dan 19–21, 21–16, 19–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2015 Australian Open China Chen Long 12–21, 21–14, 18–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2015 India Open India Srikanth Kidambi 21–18, 13–21, 12–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2012 French Open Malaysia Liew Daren 18–21, 17–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
     Superseries Finals tournament
     Superseries Premier tournament
     Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix

The BWF Grand Prix has two levels: Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It is a series of badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) since 2007.

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2015 Swiss Open India Srikanth Kidambi 14–21, 24–22, 21–8 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Swiss Open China Tian Houwei 21–7, 16–21, 25–23 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
     BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
     BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2013 Denmark International Finland Ville Lång 21–17, 21–8 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2013 Dutch International Netherlands Eric Pang 24–22, 21–12 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2011 Spanish Open Spain Pablo Abián 21–11, 7–21, 21–9 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2011 Swedish International Stockholm Spain Pablo Abián 19–21, 6–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2010 Cyprus International France Simon Maunoury 21–10, 21–11 1st, gold medalist(s) Champion
2010 Swedish International Stockholm Indonesia Indra Bagus Ade Chandra 15–21, 12–21 2nd, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
     BWF International Challenge tournament
     BWF International Series tournament

Personal life

In addition to his native Danish, Axelsen is also a fluent speaker of English and Mandarin.[14]

References

  1. ↑ http://bwfbadminton.com/rankings/
  2. ↑ Sachetat, Raphaël (25 April 2010). "World Juniors – Axelsen creates history". Badzine.net. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "'Viktor-ious' Danes Dominate – Finals: European Championships 2016". Badminton World Federation. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Badminton World Championships: Viktor Axelsen beats Lin Dan to win singles gold". BBC. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Players: Viktor Axelsen". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Viktor Axelsen" (in Danish). Fyens Stiftstidende. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  7. 1 2 Sukumar, Dev (3 May 2010). "Players – Axelsen – Hope springs anew for Denmark". Badzine.net. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Bendix, Lasr (24 January 2010). "Gennembrud for fynsk badminton-es" (in Danish). Fyens Stiftstidende. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  9. ↑ BWF. "Lin's head-to-head record against other players". TournamentSoftware.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  10. ↑ Agence France-Presse (September 24, 2017). "Viktor Axelsen wins first Japan Open title". The Times of India. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Premier Badminton League which held on Jan 5, 2018 in Nehru Stadium".
  12. ↑ "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. 29 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. 15 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Danish Badminton Player Speaks Chinese During Olympics (English + Chinese subs 中英字幕)". youtube.com. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
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