Olympic badminton champion Axelsen thrashes Hong Kong’s Lee, wins third India Open title
Viktor Axelsen needs just 41 minutes to beat Lee Cheuk-yiu to add to crowns he won in 2017 and 2019
Two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen thrashed Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk-yiu to win a record-equalling third India Open badminton title on Sunday.
The Dane, who crashed out of this month’s Malaysia Open in the first round, beat Lee 21-16, 21-8, in 41 minutes to add to his 2017 and 2019 crowns in New Delhi.
Axelsen equals the record of Malaysian great Lee Chong Wei, who won the India Open in 2011, 2013 and 2014.
Axelsen jumped with joy on the winning point and urged the crowd to raise the noise after the Indian fans had kept up chants of “Viktor for victory”.
“After this week, I feel my motivation is coming back,” he said. “Since the Olympics I had been struggling with injuries.
