NEW DELHI: The All England Open witnessed a major upset on Wednesday when former badminton world number one Viktor Axelsen suffered a surprising first-round exit at the hands of Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi. Despite a closely contested opening game, Axelsen dominated the second game, raising expectations of a potential comeback.
However, the Dane failed to maintain his form in the decider, as Lin Chun-yi went on a six-point streak, ultimately securing a 21-19, 13-21, 21-11 victory.
Axelsen, currently ranked fourth in the world, acknowledged the unpredictability of the sport, stating, “If I don’t play my best, everyone can win against me.”
He credited his opponent’s exceptional performance while expressing disappointment with his own display.
“Today’s opponent played a fantastic game, it was disappointing but that is how it is. I just tried to survive in the match. There is always a lot of pressure when I am here at the All England and every single day, and I got tense when my body was feeling bad and it affected my entire game,” he added.
In another men’s singles match, Yushi Tanaka emerged victorious against eighth-seeded compatriot Kodai Naraoka in an all-Japanese encounter.
The women’s singles event saw top-seeded South Korean An Se-young, the 2023 winner, progress smoothly with a 21-16, 21-14 victory over China’s Gao Fangjie.
Former champion Chen Yufei also advanced to the next round, while her Chinese compatriot and second seed, Wang Zhiyi, eliminated two-time winner Nozomi Okuhara.
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Viktor Axelsen’s Early Exit at All England Open
The All England Open has always been a tournament marked by thrilling performances and unexpected outcomes. This year, it was former world number one Viktor Axelsen who faced an early exit, falling to Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi in a surprising first-round match.
Match Recap
The match began with both players displaying skill and determination, resulting in a closely contested opening game. Axelsen, looking to regain his rhythm, dominated the second game, leading fans to believe a comeback was on the horizon. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the final game. Lin Chun-yi showcased exceptional play, going on a six-point streak that ultimately sealed Axelsen’s fate with a scoreline of 21-19, 13-21, 21-11.
Axelsen’s Reflection
Post-match, Axelsen expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of badminton. “If I don’t play my best, everyone can win against me,” he stated, crediting Lin’s performance while also reflecting on the pressure he felt during the match.
Women’s Singles Highlights
While Axelsen’s journey ended prematurely, the women’s singles event saw top-seeded South Korean An Se-young and former champion Chen Yufei advance to the next round. An Se-young, the 2023 winner, continued her strong form with a convincing victory over China’s Gao Fangjie.
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