Source: Visual China Group /VCG
[Saba Sports News] On January 7, the first round of the 2025 Malaysia Badminton Open commenced. Two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen lost to Lee Cheuk Yiu with scores of 17-21, 13-21, resulting in a first-round exit. After the match, Axelsen revealed that he does not care about the results in regular tournaments. The 31-year-old Axelsen had previously won gold medals at the Malaysia Open in 2022 and 2023. However, entering the 2024 season, as he ages, he has begun to follow Lin Dan’s example by selectively participating in competitions. Despite underperforming in the BWF tournaments, he successfully defended his title in the most prestigious event, the men’s singles gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Consequently, Axelsen was awarded the 2024 Danish Sportsman of the Year, with the ceremony held on January 4 in Haining, Denmark, where he received a prize of 75,000 Danish crowns. Due to the over 20-hour flight from Haining to Malaysia, Axelsen only arrived in Malaysia the day before the competition, leaving no time for him to familiarize himself with the venue and prepare. Axelsen stated that he does not regret attending the Danish Sportsman of the Year ceremony and acknowledged that his early exit was due to insufficient preparation for the Malaysian Open. He had previously missed the 2024 BWF Year-End Finals due to injuries and has not yet returned to his best physical condition. When asked about participating in the Indian Badminton Open on January 14, Axelsen said it would depend on his recovery.