In a day filled with unexpected turns at the All England Open Badminton Championships, men’s singles world No.1 and top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, along with China’s leading women’s singles player Chen Yufei, were both eliminated in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Axelsen, renowned for his victories in 2020 and 2022, faced a formidable opponent in Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. Despite dominating the first game with a score of 21-8, Axelsen could not maintain his momentum. Ginting mounted a remarkable comeback, claiming the next two games 21-18 and 21-19, securing his place in the semifinals and delivering one of the tournament’s most significant upsets.
Meanwhile, Chen Yufei, the reigning Olympic champion and one of China’s brightest badminton talents, saw her journey halted unexpectedly. Her departure from the tournament adds to the shifting landscape of the competition, as emerging players seize the opportunity to make their mark on the international stage.
The elimination of these top-seeded players has injected fresh excitement into the championships. Fans and analysts alike are now keenly watching to see who will rise to claim the prestigious titles in the absence of the favorites. The upcoming matches promise to deliver high-intensity performances as athletes from around the globe vie for badminton supremacy.
Reference(s):
World No.1 Axelsen, China's Chen crash out of All England Badminton
cgtn.com
