Viktor Axelsen Says Lee Chong Wei Was Tougher to Defeat Than Lin Dan

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Three badminton legends captured in a single frame: Lin Dan, Viktor Axelsen, and Lee Chong Wei.
Three badminton legends captured in a single frame: Lin Dan, Viktor Axelsen, and Lee Chong Wei.

Dubai: Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, a two-time Olympic men’s singles champion, recently reflected on his career and shared his experiences competing against two of badminton’s greatest legends: Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan. According to Axelsen, between the two, Lee Chong Wei posed a greater challenge.

Viktor Axelsen talks about his encounters with Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan:

Throughout his career, Axelsen faced off against both Chong Wei and Lin Dan numerous times. However, his head-to-head record against Chong Wei reveals how difficult these matches were for him, as he suffered 11 losses out of their 14 encounters. In contrast, Axelsen managed to fare better against Lin Dan, winning 6 out of their 9 meetings.

When recalling his early career, Axelsen emphasized how Chong Wei’s speed and sharpness made it almost impossible for him to compete. “I couldn’t understand how anyone could beat him,” Axelsen remarked, remembering how Chong Wei would relentlessly attack, particularly when he attempted to lift the shuttle. He shared how, in the beginning, every lift he played against Chong Wei seemed to result in an immediate smash and point loss. He struggled to keep up with the Malaysian legend’s pace, recalling a particularly humbling 21-8, 21-10 loss at the 2013 Malaysia Open.

On the other hand, Axelsen found Lin Dan’s style of play, which focused more on rallies, somewhat more manageable. While Lin Dan’s shots were hard to predict, Axelsen felt that the extended rallies gave him more of a chance to stay in the game, unlike the aggressive and fast-paced approach Chong Wei employed.

Axelsen acknowledged that, by the time he began finding success against Chong Wei and Lin Dan, both players were nearing the end of their careers, while he was hitting his prime. His first victory against Chong Wei came after 10 attempts, during a closely contested three-game match in 2016. As he continued to improve, particularly in defense, Axelsen managed to secure a few more wins, but he remained aware that he had not faced them both during their peak.

In conclusion, while Axelsen developed strategies to challenge both Chong Wei and Lin Dan as his career progressed, he believes Chong Wei’s speed and sharpness made him the tougher opponent, especially during the early stages of his own career.

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