Friday, 6 Dec 2024

News | BWF World Tour Finals

Viktor Axelsen to Face Kidambi Srikanth on Opening Day of the 125th YONEX All England

The 125th edition of the YONEX All England is set to commence with an exciting matchup between Viktor Axelsen and Kidambi Srikanth. This year, the prestigious tournament unveils a new look, featuring light grey courts instead of the traditional green. The change in aesthetics adds an extra element of intrigue to the opening day’s performances.

Axelsen, a dominant force in recent years, has faced an unusual setback due to a foot injury. Despite only participating in two events – the PETRONAS Malaysia Open and the YONEX French Open – he has managed to reach the semifinals and the second round, respectively. As the world No.1, Axelsen holds high expectations for himself at the All England, a tournament where he has triumphed in two out of four finals over the past five years.

Although Kidambi has struggled to secure a victory against Axelsen for over six years, his impressive form in France last week suggests he could pose a challenge. The Indian shuttler will undoubtedly be motivated to overcome the world’s best player on one of badminton’s grandest stages.

Defending champion Li Shi Feng, known for his iconic cartwheel celebration last year, will also kick off his campaign today against Toma Junior Popov.

Tham Khảo Thêm:  News | BWF World Tour

Notable Matches Today

  • Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana, the men’s doubles winners in 2023, will face off against Alexander Dunn/Adam Hall. The Indonesian pair currently ranks 10th in the Race to Paris and must secure a top-eight spot to qualify for the prestigious tournament.
  • As the deadline for Olympic qualification approaches, several players and pairs will be eager to make a strong impression at the All England. Han Yue, vying with He Bing Jiao for China’s second spot in women’s singles, faces a challenging opening round against Supanida Katethong.
  • Christo Popov’s recent victory at the YONEX German Open has propelled him ahead of his brother Toma Junior in the rankings. The younger Popov will now go head-to-head with Lee Cheuk Yiu, the runner-up at the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open.
  • Pusarla V Sindhu, showing signs of returning to her best form after injury setbacks last year, will begin her campaign against Yvonne Li in the women’s singles category.
  • Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, with their impressive record at the All England, face a challenging first-round encounter against Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.

Make sure to check out the full schedule and catch all the exhilarating matches in store at the BWF World Tour Finals.

FAQs

Q: Which players will be competing in the opening match of the 125th YONEX All England?
A: Viktor Axelsen and Kidambi Srikanth will face each other in the first match of the tournament.

Q: What changes can we expect in this year’s All England tournament?
A: The All England sports a fresh look with light grey courts, departing from the traditional green.

Tham Khảo Thêm:  News | BWF Olympics

Q: What is Viktor Axelsen’s record at the All England?
A: Axelsen has an impressive record at the tournament, having won two out of four finals in the past five years.

Q: Who is the defending champion in the men’s singles category?
A: Li Shi Feng, known for his memorable cartwheel celebration last year, is the defending champion.

Summary

The 125th YONEX All England is off to an exciting start with Viktor Axelsen taking on Kidambi Srikanth in the opening match. This year, the tournament introduces light grey courts, adding a fresh twist to the competition. Axelsen, despite a recent foot injury, has high expectations for himself as he aims to continue his successful record at the All England. Defending champion Li Shi Feng and other notable players are also set to showcase their skills in the early rounds. Make sure to catch all the action and witness badminton’s finest athletes compete for glory at the BWF World Tour Finals.