Two-time Olympic gold medalist and reigning champion Viktor Axelsen has officially withdrawn from the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2024 due to a left foot injury.
His spot in the prestigious season-ending tournament will be filled by China’s rising star Li Shi Feng, who recently surged in the rankings after clinching the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 title.
Axelsen, who secured his place in the Finals following his triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, shared the news on social media, expressing deep disappointment.
“I’m unfortunately unable to participate in the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals this December. I’m dealing with an injury in my left foot, which is causing me a lot of issues and I have been advised to deal with this immediately to avoid long-term problems. It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially as it’s one of my favorite tournaments and I’ve won it five times.”
The Danish superstar’s absence marks the end of an impressive season that saw him win gold in Paris, the LI-NING Hong Kong Open 2024, and reach the semifinals at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 and the LI-NING China Masters 2024.
Axelsen’s remarkable record at the season finale includes five titles, beginning with back-to-back wins at the Dubai World Superseries Finals in 2016 and 2017. He followed these with consecutive HSBC BWF World Tour Finals victories in Bali (2021), Bangkok (2022), and Hangzhou (2023).
China’s Li Shi Feng, ranked No.8 in the HSBC Race To Finals, will now join the elite competition. Li’s recent title at the Kumamoto Masters highlighted his strong form, making him a formidable contender at the Finals.
The group stage draw for the tournament, held in Hangzhou, is scheduled for 7 December at 11:00 AM local time, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the badminton season.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
