Viktor Axelsen

Back in 2017, Viktor Axelsen clinched the gold medal in the men's singles category at the World Championships, becoming the first Dane to do so in 20 years. This achievement reverberated throughout the global badminton community, as the then 23-year-old managed to overcome the legendary Lin Dan in the final in Glasgow. Just a month later, he topped off his success by triumphing at the Japan Open and securing the top spot in the world rankings for the remainder of 2017.

However, to trace the origins of his triumph in Glasgow, we need to go back in time. Viktor Axelsen was born in Odense in 1994, where he also grew up. Throughout his upbringing, his immense potential and talent were undeniable, and at the age of just 16, he made his mark on the world stage. He won the Youth World Championships in 2010, becoming the first player outside of Asia to do so. In addition to this achievement, Viktor caught the attention of many by defeating players who were two years older than him throughout the tournament.

This triumph marked the perfect beginning to a life as a professional badminton player, taking him around the world where he has claimed titles and won the hearts of fans worldwide. In 2016, Viktor won the Olympic bronze medal, and during a live interview with the Chinese TV station CCTV, he impressed everyone by conducting the interview IN CHINESE. We at Badmintonshoppen are certainly impressed - and so was the entire Chinese badminton community, by the way. Today, Viktor Axelsen resides in Dubai where he trains, and alongside his career, he has learned fluent Chinese to get closer to his fans and better understand the sport, his competitors, and his colleagues.

Today, 12 years after his Youth World Championship, Viktor has been repeatedly hailed as the world's best badminton player, and his eternal hunger and pursuit of improvement, titles, and the mission to promote the sport of badminton don't seem to be ending anytime soon - Fortunately, we think!!