PETALING JAYA: Don’t mess with Viktor Axelsen (pic) when he is at his best. Just ask his former coach Kenneth Jonassen.
The Dane, who has arrived in Malaysia to coach the singles department, said a player of Viktor’s calibre knows when their body is fit for competing, and when he is ready, he will be a force to be reckoned with.
Jonassen, who was Axelsen’s former coach in Denmark, said the 31-year-old will be a challenge to get past during the Malaysian Open starting tomorrow at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
The 51-year-old noted that world No. 4 Axelsen had withdrawn from the World Tour Finals in December due to a leg injury, and backed the shuttler’s decision.
“If he’s (Axelsen) fit, then I see him being a strong challenge at any tournament he turns up at.
“I do think it was a good choice for him to not play the World Tour Finals because he was not 100 per cent ready,” said Jonassen.
“But if he comes to Malaysia and says that he’s ready, then he is going to be a challenge for everybody.”
For skipping the World Tour Finals, Axelsen was fined US$5,000 by the BWF.
Axelsen, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, was also named Sports Name of the Year and received the BT Gold award in Denmark.
“An unforgettable birthday! Being named Sports Name of the Year and receiving the BT Gold award is a huge honour.
“Next up is Malaysia and India, where the first challenges of the year await,” said Axelsen.
Axelsen is gunning for his third Malaysian Open win after claiming the 2022 and 2023 titles but fell to China’s Shi Yuqi in the semi-finals of last year’s tournament.
Looking at the coming years, Jonassen said Axelsen is a unique player who is able to create the hunger to perform at the highest level, despite his age catching up.
“I think it’s a thing between being physically fit. When you’re getting older, injuries will occur, but it’s also important to stay motivated and hungry,” said Jonassen.
“And I think Axelsen is a unique player in that sense, where he seems to be able to create that inner hunger to want to achieve more.
“So if he can sustain that motivation, then he’ll be one of those players where everyone needs to find a solution to beat.”
Fourth seed Axelsen will start his campaign at the Malaysian Open against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu, an opponent Axelsen has won six times in their seven previous meetings.
