Source: Sipa USA /SOPA Images
[Saba Sports News] Just two weeks after winning the German Badminton Open, Danish star Viktor Axelsen faced a shocking defeat in the first round of the men’s singles at the All England Badminton Super 1000 tournament. After a grueling 54-minute match, he lost to Taiwan’s Lin Chun-Yi with scores of 19-21, 21-13, 11-21, marking one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. With Axelsen’s exit, he misses the chance to win the All England title for the third time, following victories in 2020 and 2022. After the match, the 31-year-old Axelsen expressed that he did not perform at his best and that everyone had a chance to defeat him. He stated that he will enter a long break period to allow his body to recover to optimal condition. Axelsen revealed that he had been suffering from severe nerve pain in his back for the past few months, which now prevents him from competing normally. Fortunately, he has a great support team around him, and he believes they will find a solution to help him adjust and move forward in the best way possible.