Bhubaneswar: In a surprising turn at the 2025 Denmark Open, badminton fans witnessed two top players—Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen and France’s rising star Alex Lanier—fall short in the semifinals.
Axelsen faced China’s Shi Yu Qi in a nail-biting three-game thriller. After taking the first game 21–19, Axelsen was overtaken as Shi Yu Qi stormed back 21–17, 21–17. Reflecting on the match, Axelsen said, “A very tough game… it has given me the belief that I can compete with the best in the world.”
Meanwhile, Alex Lanier battled Indonesia’s Jonathan Christie under tricky windy conditions. Despite a strong start winning the first game 21–11, Lanier lost momentum, ultimately succumbing 21–8, 21–13. Lanier admitted, “I need to improve some shots… I am playing better with the drift now, but it’s definitely not enough.”
Both players are now gearing up for the French Open next week, eager to bounce back stronger. The Denmark Open may have ended in disappointment for them, but the excitement around their next performances is only building.
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