Badminton News: Who will be crowned World Men’s Singles Champion at the prestigious BWF World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark this week?
Here are the top picks:
Victor Axelsen
Age: 29
Country: Denmark
Rank 1
Appearance: Eighth (2013 debut)
Best Performance: Winner (2017, 2022)
Big favorite, the world title belongs to Axelsen, barring unforeseen circumstances. Demonstrating why he holds the world No. 1 ranking, Axelsen made a remarkable comeback after a hamstring injury (sustained during the Sudirman Cup in May), winning three titles in a row: Indonesia Open, European Games and Open from Japan.
He will surely be even more motivated, relishing the rare opportunity to win the world title in front of his home crowd. A third title would make him the second most successful male player in tournament history, just behind Lin Dan. which has five degrees.
KUNLAVUT VITIDSARN
Age: 22 years old
Country: Thailand
Rating: 3
Appearance: Third (2021 debut)
Best Performance: Finalist (2022)
Kunlavut, a three-time junior world champion from 2017 to 2019, transitioned smoothly into the senior stage and quickly rose through the ranks.
He defied expectations in Tokyo last year by reaching the final, only to be beaten by Axelsen 21-5, 21-16.
However, Kunlavut redeemed himself by beating the mighty Dane to win the Indian Open 2023 title.
Having also won the Thailand Open, Kunlavut is preparing for another tough challenge in Copenhagen. He is hoping to become the first Thai to win the men’s singles title to join the illustrious cast of players who have already won junior and senior world titles. In men’s singles, big names like Axelsen and Kento Momota from Japan have won this award.
KODAI NARAOKA
Age: 22 years old
Japan
Rating: 4
Appearance: Second (2022 debut)
Best result: second round
Coming from the Kunlavut clique, Naraoka takes his time to impose himself. Her breakthrough moment came last year when she won the Vietnam Open, marking her only victory in four World Tour finals.
Although her best achievement was second place at the Malaysian Open, her form has remained strong this year. Since the All England event in March, he has reached the quarter-finals in eight of nine tournaments, reaching the semi-finals four times.
With Momota’s form declining after a traffic accident in 2020, Naraoka’s timely emergence is crucial for his country as he is now expected to maintain his legacy in the men’s singles contest.
LI SHI FENG
Age: 23 years old
Country: China
Rating: 6
Appearance: Second (2022 debut)
Best result: second round
Winning All England this year established Shi Feng among the elites, giving China a much-needed boost as they grapple with the significant void left by retired stars Lin Dan and Chen Long.
Although Shi Feng struggled to replicate his success across England, he was not to be overlooked. He returned to form last month, claiming victory at the lower tier of the US Open.
JONATAN CHRISTIE
Age: 26 years old
Indonesian country
Rating: 5
Appearance: Fourth (2018 debut)
Best performance: Quarter-finalist 2019, 2022)
Jonathan enters the World Championship with a point to prove. Although he doesn’t appear regularly on the World Tour, he has shown the ability to pick up a win or reach the final every season.
Highlights include her victory at the Indonesia Masters and her recent runner-up finish at the 2023 Japan Open.
He will open the campaign against Malaysian Lee Zii Jia. His commendable run in Copenhagen will no doubt boost his confidence as he prepares to defend his gold medal at the Asian Games.
LOH KEAN IF
Age: 26 years old
Country: Singapore
Rating: 7
Appearance: Fourth (2019 debut)
Best Performance: World Champion (2021)
Born in Penang, Kean Yew has not won a title since his success in Huelva two years ago. However, his consistent presence as a regular top 10 on the international stage cannot be denied. He showed his confidence by finishing second at the Asian Championships and most recently at the 2023 Korea Open.
Lakshya Sen
Age: 22 years old
Country: India
Rating: 11
Appearance: Third (2021 debut)
Best performance: Semi-finalist (2021)
Lakhsya is fit again and ready to step into the spotlight in Copenhagen. His recent victory at the Canadian Open, coupled with his semi-final placements at the US Open and Japan Open, means a return to form.
Despite his pivotal role in winning India’s Thomas Cup and securing Commonwealth Games gold, Lakhsya suffered a sudden dip in form during the second half of last year.
It was later revealed that a deviated septum was the problem, requiring surgery. With that hurdle now in the past, he should be a serious contender for the world title.
Article Tags: viktor axelsen, Jonatan Christie, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Li Shi Feng, Lakhsya Sen, Kodai Naraoka, BWF World Championships 2023
