Badminton News: The men’s singles competition is set to be a one-sided affair as the all-powerful Viktor Axelsen is set to be too strong for the court in the BWF World Tour Finals which begins today.
Former international Datuk Rashid Sidek says apart from 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, no one else can stop giant Viktor Axelsen in Bangkok.
The Dane has won five Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour titles to contest for this year’s World and European crowns.
Rashid added that world number 1 Axelsen might be forced to work harder if world number 2 Lee Zii Jia makes it to the season finale.
Zii Jia was sidelined after losing to Chinese Lu Guangzu, who qualified for Bangkok, in the round of 16 at the Australian Open in Sydney last month.
Viktor Axelsen is in an easier Group A with HS Prannoy from India, Kodai Naraoka from Japan and Guangzu while Kean Yew is in a more difficult Group B with Chou Tien-chen from Taiwan and Indonesian duo Anthony Ginting and Jonatan Christie.
“It’s for Viktor who lost it. No player can beat him in Bangkok. That’s how consistent he is,” Rashid said.
“Zii Jia may have run out of money for Viktor because they’ve had close games before. Kean Yew is capable of pissing off but he has to negotiate a tough group stage first.”
The Singaporean beat Axelsen in the Danish Open quarter-finals (in October) before losing to Zii Jia in the last four.
Axelsen prepared for the title with the BWF’s ‘Male Player of the Year’ award on Monday.
“Winning this award at the end of the year means a lot. It’s a recap of the whole year, and when you win with so many great nominations and such an amazing opponent, I’m very, very happy,” Axelsen said.
Axelsen opened the competition against youngster Guangzu while Kean Yew will engage in a battle royal with Chou Tien Chen today.
Article tags: Victor Axelsen, Lol Kean Yew, 2022 BWF World Tour Finals
Published by Ligaolahraga.com at https://www.ligaolahraga.com/badminton/viktor-axelsen-diprediksi-bawa-pulang-gelar-bwf-world-tour-finals-2022
