ZCZC
BSP-09
BADMINTON-WORLD-CHN
One of their own – Danish world no.1 wins China fans with Mandarin
NANJING, China, Aug 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Viktor Axelsen is number one in
the rankings and the reigning world champion, but badminton is not the
strapping Dane’s only talent — he also speaks Chinese.
The 24-year-old harnessed the support of the home crowd in the Chinese city
of Nanjing on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the World
Championships.
Axelsen, the top seed, admitted afterwards that he was not at his best in
defeating Hong Kong’s 10th-seeded Angus Ng Ka-long 21-19, 21-18.
So it helped that he was able to draw on the crowd, who have taken to the
Dane partly because of his efforts to learn very passable Chinese.
Having a good grasp of Mandarin helps in a sport where many of his rivals
are Chinese or of Chinese descent.
Axelsen has been learning for about four years and can give interviews in
the language.
He has even taken to translating for his rivals, including the Chinese
badminton legend Lin Dan, and he can also use it to listen in on the tactics
of his Chinese opponents.
“It really helps me communicate with my Chinese fans and I really
appreciate all the support out here,” he told AFP in Nanjing after defeating
Ng.
“Having the Chinese fans yelling your name, I really appreciate that.
“It is also really convenient to be able to speak a bit, not only with the
other players, but at restaurants and out there in the real world, so to
speak.”
As well as endearing himself to Chinese fans, Axelsen hopes having the
language will be useful for life after badminton.
Axelsen won the first game 21-19, then he and Ng went toe-to-toe in the
second, trading points, before the Dane pulled away at the end, 21-18.
He celebrated with a heartfelt swing of his fist.
“It meant a lot. Sometimes when you feel like you are not at your highest
level, you also have to be able to win,” he said.
“Today I did not feel that good on court to be honest, my opponent
definitely made it hard for me, so well played to him.
“I struggled a little bit to win it and that’s why I showed some emotions
out there today,” he added, before passing a couple of Chinese players and
exchanging pleasantries — in Chinese.
In the women’s draw, world number one and strong favourite Tai Tzu-ying of
Taiwan recovered from a slow start to book her place in the last eight.
Tai was behind in the opening exchanges against Zhang Beiwen, the Chinese-
born American who needed internet crowd funding to make it to Nanjing.
But the 24-year-old Tai’s quality soon shone through, winning 21-19, 21-14
in 34 minutes to set up a meeting with China’s sixth seed He Bingjiao.
BSS/AFP/MR/1054 hrs