Viktor Axelsen Secures First Title of the Year with Dominant Display in India

Viktor Axelsen exacted revenge for his recent defeat in Malaysia by defeating Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-16, 21-8 in the India Open final, securing his first title of the year.

Viktor Axelsen, the Danish Olympic champion, exacted revenge for his recent defeat in Malaysia by securing his first title of the year at the Super 750 India Open. Axelsen dominated the final, defeating Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-16, 21-8. This victory marked a triumphant return to form for Axelsen, who had suffered a disappointing loss to Lee Cheuk Yiu just two weeks prior in Malaysia.

Axelsen's path to the final was not without its challenges. He had to overcome Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in a thrilling three-set match, winning 17-21, 21-14, 21-15. This victory set the stage for Axelsen's revenge against Lee Cheuk Yiu in the final. Notably, Axelsen had also reached the final of the India Open in 2024, only to lose to world No. 1 Shi Yuqi in straight games.

Axelsen's victory in the final was his third title win in the India Open, with his previous triumph dating back to 2019. The match got off to a rocky start for Axelsen, who fell behind 2-6 early on. However, he quickly regained his composure and energy, taking an 11-8 lead into the break. From there, Axelsen maintained his momentum, ultimately securing a convincing 21-16, 21-8 victory.

After regaining his composure, Viktor Axelsen took control of the match, fending off a feeble attempt by Lee Cheuk Yiu to mount a comeback. Axelsen held firm to secure the first set, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. The contest was a thrilling display of world-class badminton, with momentum shifting frequently and narrow margins often deciding the outcome of rallies.

As the match progressed, Axelsen's superiority began to tell, with Lee Cheuk Yiu struggling to find his range and consistently hitting wide. Constantly chasing the game, Lee Cheuk Yiu's confidence began to wane, which proved costly against an opponent as formidable as Axelsen. With his opponent's morale sagging, Axelsen seized the opportunity to wrap up the match, never looking back as he secured yet another trophy to add to his collection.