Bali: After the World No. 2 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark won the Tokyo Olympics gold medal, the Dane invited several players including Loh Kean Yew (Singapore), Lakshya Sen (India), Brian Yang (Canada), Toby Penty (England), Felix Burestedt (Sweden), and two 19-year-old Danish players – Axel Parkhoi and Marcus Viscovich to join and to spar with him in Dubai.
On Sunday, Viktor Axelsen will welcome a chance to play Loh again, but this time not as a sparring partner, but as an opponent.
The Olympic champion reached his second Indonesia Open final in three years on Saturday after seeing off the local favorite, and World No. 8 Jonatan Christie 21-19, 21-15 in the semi-finals.
“It was a tough match for me. Jonatan is a formidable opponent. I have huge respect for him,” said Axelsen.
“I am grateful that I was able to win today’s match. In terms of conditions, I am more ready to appear in the final match this time,” added Axelsen.
In another men’s semi-finals, Loh Kean Yew defeated Denmark’s world number 13 Rasmus Gemke 21-14, 21-7 to book his spot in the Indonesia Open final.
This was the second time Loh has beaten the Dane in one month, he overcame Gemke in the HYLO Open quarter-finals before beating Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the final for the HYLO Open title.
“I’ve lost to Viktor a few times since 2019. I’ll play my best in the final,” said Loh.
Axelsen held a 3-0 career meeting record against Loh. The last time both met was in the 2021 Denmark Open first round, where Axelsen beat Loh 21-19, 21-14.
In women’s singles, No. 4 seed An Seyoung of Korea survived a tough challenge from No. 5 seed Pornpawee Chochuwong, beating the Thai player 21-19, 21-19 to set up the final meeting with another Thai shuttler, the No. 2 seed Ratchanok Intanon.
Intanon beat No. 3 seed, PV Sindhu, 15-21, 21-9, 21-14 in the semi-finals.
Japan’s women’s doubles No. 4 seeds Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida will face No. 2 seeds Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu of Indonesia in the final while Thailand’s No. 1 seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai will take on No. 3 seeds Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino from Japan in the mixed doubles final.
