China’s Shi Yuqi
PETALING JAYA: Can we have a dream duel like Lin Dan of China and Lee Chong Wei in the men’s singles at the Olympic Games in the Paris edition this year?
Former international Ong Ewe Hock thinks so.
He feels that many are waiting with bated breath to see an ultimate showdown between two greats – defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Shi Yuqi of China.
Depending on the draw that will be released on July 12, Axelsen-Yuqi can set up a mouth-watering clash and it could be the best final in the Games’ badminton competition from July 27-Aug 5 at the Adidas Arena in Porte de la Chapelle.
Yuqi overtook Axelsen as the new world No. 1 last month and is one of the favourites for the gold along with the Dane.
Axelsen will not let go of his crown without a fight and is attempting to become only the second men’s singles player to win two golds in the Olympics after Chinese great Lin Dan.
Both Axelsen and Yuqi gave a sneak preview of what they can dish out when they fought brilliantly in the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open this year, where a resilient Yuqi trooped out as the winner in stunning style.
Former international Ong Ewe Hock believes that a clash between Axelsen and Yuqi will be exciting for fans.
“Yuqi and Axelsen are currently the No. 1 and No. 2 in the world and fans will be looking forward to a final between these two in the Olympics,” said Ewe Hock.
“It will be good to watch the two best players in the world fighting for the gold.
“Axelsen will be out to win his second gold which is a feat that not many players have managed.”
Besides Lin Dan, only former Chinese women’s singles great Zhang Ning has won two golds in the singles events.
China’s Shi Yuqi
Axelsen may have a tough task to emulate Lin Dan and Zhang Ning as Yuqi has been in fiery form this year and will be keen to regain the gold for China last won by Chen Long in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro edition.The Dane has been struggling to regain the form that saw him maintain his world No. 1 status for more than two years.
The 30-year-old’s only title this year came in the Malaysian Masters in May.
Axelsen however, has always risen to the occasion in major tournaments and is still one of the clear favourites for the title.
Yuqi has flopped in the last two majors at the 2018 World Championships (lost to Kento Momota of Japan in the final) and the Hangzhou Asian Games last year (lost to teammate Li Shifeng in the final).
But Yuqi, whose career has had its blemishes, is in the form of his life.
After making a comeback from an ankle injury and a one-year ban from his association, he has captured the Opens in India, France, Indonesia and Singapore this year and finished runners-up in the Malaysian Open in January.
The 28-year-old also brilliantly led China to the Thomas Cup crown at home in Chengdu in May.
Barring any upsets, Axelsen and Yuqi should feature in the dream final, unless others like Indonesia’s Jonathan Christie, Anthony Ginting; India’s Lakshya Sen; Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia; Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn; Denmark’s Anders Antonsen spoil the party.
