Denmark's Axelsen beats Thailand's Kunlavut to win badminton world title

Denmark's Axelsen beats Thailand's Kunlavut to win badminton world title

Gold medallist Viktor Axelsen of Denmark (2nd left) poses on the podium with silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand (left) and bronze medallists Zhao Junpeng of China (2nd right) and Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan (right) after the men's singles final at the World Badminton Championships in Tokyo on Sunday. (AFP photo)
Gold medallist Viktor Axelsen of Denmark (2nd left) poses on the podium with silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand (left) and bronze medallists Zhao Junpeng of China (2nd right) and Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan (right) after the men's singles final at the World Badminton Championships in Tokyo on Sunday. (AFP photo)

Denmark's Viktor Axelwon his second badminton world title on Sunday, beating Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-5, 21-16 in the final in Tokyo.

World number one Axelsen has lost only one singles match this season and was too much for 21-year-old rising star Kunlavut, who was blown away in the first game.

Axelsen, who won Olympic gold last year, also claimed the world title in Glasgow in 2017.

The 28-year-old Dane has been in imperious form this week in Tokyo, reaching the final without losing a single game.

He took control right from the start against a shell-shocked Kunlavut and clinched the first game with a commanding smash.

Kunlavut made more of a contest of the second game but it was still not enough to stop Axelsen, who raised both arms and lay on his back after Vitidsarn's final shot went long.

The win gave Axelsen his sixth title of the season.

World number 17 Kunlavut was playing in his first world championships final, having knocked out Singapore's defending champion Loh Kean Yew in the quarter-finals.

Kunlavut, a three-time junior world champion, was bidding to become Thailand's first-ever senior men's singles world champion.

FILE PHOTO: Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand hits a return against Zhao Junpeng of China during their men's singles semi-final match on day six of the Badminton World Championships in Tokyo on Saturday. (AFP)

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (3)