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Denmark`s flag-bearer for badminton Viktor Axelsen, 32, brought down the curtain on his illustrious career on Wednesday, claiming recurring back issues have left him unable “to compete at the highest level.” The two-time Olympic gold medallist and former No. 1 is adored all around the world, and ex-India badminton player and Chief National Coach Pullela Gopichand is no exception.
“He’s had a remarkable career. He’s been a great athlete as well as a great ambassador for the sport, which has been dominated by Asians, so it was good to see Viktor represent Europe so well. Axelsen was a big part of the transition from the Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei era to the current one,” Gopichand, an All England Open winner in 2001, told mid-day.
Pullela Gopichand. Pic/AFP
The 1998 Commonwealth Games men’s singles bronze medallist also shed light on what set the Dane apart from his rivals. “He had a unique playing style and was a great entertainer for the sport. His physicality, especially his height [six feet, four inches], is different from the other players. He was very strong defensively and demonstrated great speed to execute his defensive plays. Plus, he had a big smash to attack when the opportunity came,” explained Gopichand, 52.
While Axelsen’s imposing frame no doubt aided his reach, Gopichand believes it may have been as much a bane for him.
“Badminton is one of those sports where having that extra reach upwards can help, but the reach down can be a challenge. Even when it comes to playing closer to the body, it can be tricky. Having said that, being stable at taller heights, in terms of having a defensive base, then becomes vital for a player, and Viktor had that stability. But you can say [it was a bit of a bane] too, because he had to work a lot harder on his hip and back mobility,” opined Gopichand, who added that Axelsen is “somebody who is not happy to be on the journey if he doesn’t have a chance to win,” which even the Dane alluded to in his retirement post.
Gopichand also lavished praise on the two-time World Championship winner for imparting his knowledge to two of India’s young shuttlers Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty — both have had the opportunity to train with him in Dubai previously.
“It’s very nice on his part [to work with Sen and Shetty]. The experience that he has and how he can articulate it to youngsters… It’s phenomenal for any young athlete [to learn from him], and they will no doubt benefit from it,” concluded the Arjuna Awardee.
Two
No. of Olympic gold medals won by Viktor Axelsen (2020, 2024)
Five
No. of BWF World Tour Finals won by Viktor Axelsen
183
No. of weeks Viktor Axelsen spent as World No. 1; a mark only surpassed by Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei (349).
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