Source: REUTERS/Arko Datta
[Saba Sports News] In today’s world badminton scene, free agent players are gradually becoming an indispensable force. Following the likes of Viktor Axelsen, Anders Antonsen, and Lee Zii Jia, Jonatan Christie has recently bid farewell to the national team and embarked on the path of being a free agent, filled with uncertainties and challenges. It is understood that the reason Jonatan decided to become a free agent was influenced by Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen. After winning the men’s singles title at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Axelsen made a remarkable decision – to leave the national team, move to Dubai, and set up a training base at his own expense. This pioneering move not only created a more free and efficient training environment for him but also attracted renowned players like Loh Kean Yew, Brian Yang, and Lakshya Sen to train together. Surprisingly, after leaving the national team system, Axelsen’s competitive form did not decline; instead, he consecutively won the men’s singles titles in major events such as the 2022 All England Championships, 2022 World Championships, 2023 BWF Finals, and 2024 Paris Olympics. Axelsen’s successful example provides players like Jonatan with a new career development mindset, showing them that it is possible to maximize personal value outside the national team framework. As the Asian Games men’s singles champion, Jonatan has yet to win a medal in major events like the World Championships and Olympics. Now, at the age of 28, he stands at a crossroads in his career.