MENS SINGLES WIDE-OPEN, SAYS AXELSEN

Jayce September 6, 2024 8 0

Defending champion Viktor Axelsen believes it is “impossible” to pick a favorite among the many contenders in the men’s singles competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Over the past year, Axelsen has overcome multiple injuries and in June, he ceded the world number one ranking to Shi Yuqi, who had held the top spot for over two years. However, the 30-year-old remains confident in his ability to defend the title he won three years ago in Tokyo.

“Winning gold again is my dream, and I will do everything I can to achieve it,” Axelsen said. “But the strength of the men’s singles players is so high that it is hard to pinpoint one or even a few main contenders. Many players are well-prepared, including myself.

“I am very proud of where I am right now. Being able to spend time with my family has helped me move past the frustrations of injury. I am confident in my physical capabilities, and my game has been improving over the past four to five weeks. I am in a good place.”

Axelsen is seeded second behind Shi Zhengli, who is enjoying the best season of his career, having won four HSBC BWF World Tour titles since the beginning of the year.

Behind these two players is a group of contenders with realistic hopes for gold.

Third seed Jonatan Christie won the prestigious All England Open in March, and his compatriot Anthony Sinisuka Ginting will look to follow in the footsteps of Chen Long in 2016 and Axelsen by winning gold after an Olympic bronze.

Notably, Anders Antonsen claimed his first Super 1000 title in January by decisively defeating Shi Yuqi in the final, and Kunlavut Vitidsarn enters Paris riding high on his breakthrough victory at the 2023 World Championships.

The badminton competition starts today at the La Chapelle Sports Hall.