Speaker A
Who was harder to face, Lin Dan or Lee Chong Wei? I think both. I think actually in the start of my career, you know, when I was still young and coming up, I played Chong Wei on numerous occasions where I
Viktor Axelsen reflects on facing badminton legends Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei, sharing why Chong Wei was harder early in his career.
Key Takeaways
- Both Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei were formidable opponents for Axelsen.
- Chong Wei's speed and sharpness posed a unique challenge early in Axelsen's career.
- Axelsen struggled particularly with Chong Wei's backcourt smashes.
- The experience against these legends helped shape Axelsen’s growth as a player.
- Respect and admiration for both players are evident in Axelsen’s reflections.
What the video covers
- Viktor Axelsen compares the difficulty of playing against Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei.
- He acknowledges both players as tough opponents.
- Early in his career, Axelsen found Lee Chong Wei particularly challenging.
- Chong Wei's speed and sharpness made it hard for Axelsen to compete.
- Axelsen recalls a match in Malaysia where he struggled to lift shots against Chong Wei.
- He lost a match with scores 8-12 against Chong Wei early in his career.
- Axelsen felt that every attempt to play the backcourt was countered effectively by Chong Wei.
- He describes Chong Wei’s smashes as overwhelming during that period.
- The video highlights the respect Axelsen has for both badminton legends.
- It provides insight into the challenges faced by a rising player against top-tier opponents.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
literally couldn't understand how somebody could win against Lee because he was so much faster than me. He was so sharp. But I remember playing him in Malaysia when I was maybe one of my first years on tour. That literally I
Speaker A
couldn't lift without him just smashing it into the ground. It was absolutely crazy. I think I lost with 8 and 12 when I was playing Chong Wei in the start of my career. I just felt like every time I
Speaker A
tried to lift or play the backcourt, I was just sorry, screwed. So I actually felt a little bit harder against Chong Wei.
Topics:Viktor AxelsenLin DanLee Chong Weibadmintonbadminton legendsbadminton rivalrybadminton careerbadminton challengesbadminton smashesbadminton backcourt
