World No. 1 Axelsen Overcomes Loh Challenge to Reach Semifinals

Viktor Axelsen, the world's top-ranked badminton player, secured a spot in the India Open semifinals with a thrilling three-set victory over Kean Yew Loh.

Viktor Axelsen secured a spot in the semifinals at the India Open, a Super 750 tournament, by defeating former world champion Kean Yew Loh of Singapore in a thrilling three-set match, 21-19, 13-21, 21-8, on Friday.

Axelsen's quarterfinal match on Friday was a stark contrast to his previous performance, which had gotten off to a flying start. This time, Axelsen began by playing with too much risk, making numerous mistakes that Loh quickly capitalized on to establish a significant 9-2 lead. However, the Danish Olympic champion gradually regained his composure and clawed his way back into the game, ultimately claiming the first set 21-19 in a closely contested battle.

In the second set, Viktor Axelsen appeared to abandon the strategies that had served him well in the first set. Kean Yew Loh effectively slowed down the pace of the game, and Axelsen struggled at the net, where the Singaporean player held a significant advantage. As a result, Loh dominated the second set, winning 21-13.

However, Axelsen regained his momentum in the third set, increasing the pace of the game and displaying the sharpness and composure that have earned him the top ranking in the world. Meanwhile, Loh struggled to execute his game plan, allowing Axelsen to take control and ultimately emerge victorious with a 21-8 win in the third set. With this win, Axelsen advances to Saturday's semifinal, where he will face either Jonatan Christie or Lin Chun-Yi.