Singapore Open :Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen has withdrawn from the BWF Singapore Open 2024 badminton tournament ahead of his scheduled semi-final on Saturday (June 1) due to injury.
BWF Singapore Open 2024: Viktor Axelsen exits semis with injury
The Dane, who defeated Lakshya Sen, Lin Chun-yi and Leong Jun Hao to reach the last four, said he suffered an ankle injury in his last-16 win over Lin.
“During my 2nd round I developed a small rollover in my right ankle. Initially I felt good and yesterday [against Leong] it was nothing but a little sore,” he wrote on Instagram.
“However this morning I woke up with growing pain and after advicing the medical team I have been advised to rest my ankle and therefore will not be able to step on court today.
“It’s obviously very disappointing because I want to continue my run here.” Axelsen added that he will try to return at the Indonesia Open next week if his injury permits.
This means the men’s singles final in Singapore will feature two shuttlers from the People’s Republic of China, with Li Shifeng the beneficiary of Axelsen’s withdrawal and facing compatriot Shi Yuki.
Xi defeated Chou Tien-Chen of Chinese Taipei 28-26, 21-9.
Meanwhile, the women’s singles final will be between the top two seeds: reigning world champion and world number one An Seong of the Republic of Korea and Chinese shuttler Chen Yufei, the defending Olympic champion and world number 2.
Both women won in straight games on Saturday, with Chen beating Thailand‘s Parnapawi Chochuong 21-12, 21-17 and Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21-14, 23-21.
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