World No. 1 Axelsen targets sustained dominance

After seeing through the perfunctory question and answer session, the assembled players were asked to line up next to one another. And the reigning World Champion Viktor Axelsen, with his strapping 6’4” frame, stood head and shoulders above all the others indicating the wide gulf in class that made him tower over his adversaries in 2017. What greater motivation does he need than his name ‘Viktor’ that spurs him on in his relentless quest for sporting excellence. 

Axelsen, who turned a year older and also a year wiser on Thursday, his birthday, is coming off an epoch-making season that saw him become the World Champion for the first time ousting Lin Dan in the final at Glasgow. That was not all as the 24-year-old Dane ensured that the climax to a long and draining season had its perfect denouement as he clinched the World Super Series crown for the second year in a row.

Against such a euphoric backdrop, if there was something that made him convulse with discomfort, it was the service rule change that he termed ‘ludicrous’. “All the recent changes, especially the one pertaining to service, will do no good for the sport. Too much tinkering will only harm the game,” said a clearly miffed Axelsen. 

Axelsen set the agenda for the year ahead that saw him accord paramount importance to winning the prestigious All England Open Championships. It becomes amply clear through the course of the conversation that its absence from his trophy cabinet rankles him no end. “Obviously, winning the All England Championship is a big goal. That is one tournament I haven’t won yet and I will be gunning for that this year. That apart, retaining my World Championship and the Thomas Cup will also be high on my wish list,” added the world number one. 

As for his stint in the PBL and basking in the warmth of love and admiration shown by the Indian fans, Axelsen said he loves visiting India and the league is a golden opportunity for the younger crop of Indian players to demonstrate what they are capable of on a big stage. 

“Of course, I would love coming back to India. The people of India know the sport well and are knowledgeable. PBL is a good exposure and a challenge in equal measure. I’m happy being a part of Bengaluru Blasters and what makes me happier is we have placed ourselves in a good position to qualify for the playoffs by being second in the table. There is no easy match in this league and any team can beat any other team. Therein lies the charm,” said Axelsen. 

If there is no end to his winning spree, Axelsen, who is a football enthusiast, might soon take issue with his compatriot Peter Schmeichel over who the owner of the sobriquet, ‘The Great Dane’ should be.