PETALING JAYA: Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen’s (pic) return to action is set to spice up the men’s singles competition in the Hong Kong Open which starts today.
Axelsen is set to make his first appearance in a tournament since successfully defending his gold in the Paris Olympics last month.
The world No. 2 uploaded videos of him training in Hong Kong in his social media pages.
“Well arrived in Hong Kong! Long time no see,” posted Axelsen, who looked in high spirits as he practised his shots on court.
Axelsen will be out to continue his good form and capture his second World Tour title this year after winning the Malaysian Masters in May.
The Dane looked far from his usual dominant self as he struggled in other tournaments leading up to the Olympics but proved again that he was the man for the big occasions when he swept aside Thailand’s reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-11, 21-11 in the final to win the gold again.
Axelsen also convincingly defeated Singapore’s 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew and India’s 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lakshya Sen en route to the title.
The 30-year-old, who won his first gold in the 2020 Tokyo Games, became only the second men’s singles player to defend his title in the Olympics after China’s Lin Dan’s feat in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London editions.
Axelsen is not ruling out going for a historic third gold in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if he can maintain his form and fitness over the next four years.
In the Hong Kong tourney, the Dane has been placed in the lower half of the draw and has a tricky opening match against homester Angus Ng Ka Long.
The other top 10 players in the world in the same half as Axelsen are Taiwan’s world No. 9 Chou Tien-chen and Indonesia’s world No. 10 Anthony Ginting.
Axelsen could play Tien-chen in the quarter-final while Ginting could be lying in wait in the last four.
In the top half of the draw, China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi’s withdrawal has opened the door for the likes of Indonesia’s world No. 3 Jonatan Christie and Japan’s world No. 7 Kodai Naraoka to reach the final.
Meanwhile, world No. 29 Leong Jun Hao will be Malaysia’s best hope in the absence of world No. 4 Lee Zii Jia.
Jun Hao will open his campaign against a qualifier and a win will see him face either China’s Korean Open champion Lu Guangzu or homester Lee Cheuk Yiu in the second round.
The other Malaysians in the fray in the men’s singles are Justin Hoh and independent player Cheam June Wei, who were both promoted to the main draw from the qualifying rounds.
Justin, who will be making his debut in a World Tour Super 500 tournament, will take on Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in the first round while June Wei will play Frenchman Christo Popov.
