Chen Long didn’t play a single competitive tournament on the tour before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He played 2 tournaments in 2020. Despite the sporadic appearances on the tour in the last 2 years, the reigning Olympic champion is back in the final of the games. this time at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Number 6 in the world rankings, Chen Long, will face the Dane Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles final on Monday and wants to become the second male player to win two Olympic gold medals. By the way, the first player to do so was Chen Long, the badminton star who won gold in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, defeating Malaysian Lee Chong Wei in the final both times.
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Chen Long won gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, defeating Lee Chong Wei in the final. The Tokyo Olympics also marked the first time since 2008 that Lin Dan and Chong Wei did not make it to the men’s individual semi-finals at the Games.
Chen Long broke the hearts of many Indonesian badminton fans when he stormed into the finals after beating the world number one. 5 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-16, 21-11 in one straightforward game. The defending champions’ wall-like defense was in sight as Ginting had a hard time finding any rhythm.
Chen said he hoped to bring his best badminton to the finals on Monday.
“I hope I can do my best tomorrow,” said Chen. “There’s no going back. I have to make sure that I take every opportunity and do my best.”
Will get gold: Viktor Axelsen
Axelsen, number 2 in the world, is meanwhile trying to win his second Olympic medal after taking bronze at the Rio Games. He finished Kevin Cordon’s fairytale run in Tokyo and knocked out the Guatemalan shuttle in the first semi-final of the men’s singles in straight games.
Axelsen, who has been the most consistent male shutter on the tour in the recent past, said he would go for gold on Monday. After Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen, he will only become the second Danish men’s individual player to win an Olympic gold medal if he succeeds in completing Chen’s application for a medal in the 3rd Games.
“Anyone who has a bit of badminton knowledge could see that it was really tense and not such a nice game,” said Axelsen.
“I don’t think you can find a game that has more pressure on me than this one.
“I’m more relaxed with a silver medal, and now I’m going for gold.”
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