SWEDISH INT’L 2011 Day 1 – Viktor back where it all began.

Round 1 of the Swedish International kicked off today in the wonderful Eriksdalshallen in Stockholm and all the pre-tournament talk was about Viktor Axelsen (pictured) and his welcomed return exactly one year on after his breakthrough onto the senior stage at this very tournament.

Article and Photos by Mark Phelan (Live in Stockholm)

In the 2010 edition of the Swedish International, Axelsen blitzed through qualification as a 16-year-old to reach the final before succumbing to the Spanish-based Indonesian Indra Bagus in the final. The final appearance at last year’s staging of the tournament proved to be the catalyst that has shot the young Dane to apparent super stardom as he claimed the World Junior title just a few months later in Guadalajara.

By a twist of fate, Axelsen was called onto the exact same court as last year, the only difference this time being that he now wore the favourite’s tag.  The World Junior Champion got off to an excellent start as he took the opening game against the Russian giant Ivanov 21-16. But this was always going to be a difficult match against such a tall man and the Russian levelled proceedings with a 21-17 win in the second game.

It is safe to suggest that many young up-and-coming athletes would have succumbed to the pressure of losing the second game but Axelsen in not your average 17-year-old badminton player.  He showed the mental capabilities of a seasoned professional in adapting to every situation and manoeuvring the shuttle around the giant Russian and was ‘cool as a cucumber’ in securing the win in three with a 21-12 rout in the third.

“I have never played Ivanov before and it was always going to be a tough challenge for me. I felt some small pressure coming back onto this court as I was aware that this was the place where it really all began for me last year but at the same time I was ready for the challenge. I did feel a little bit tired in the second set but I had it in my head what I needed to do and I stuck to the game plan and it worked,” said a happy Axelsen after his first round victory.

Axelsen’s second round victory against Ville Lang of Finland proved to be a spectacle of pure showmanship with a fair share of skill thrown in the mix for good measure. Both players swashbuckled around the court and at one point went face-to-face at the net as the whole crowd had moved to the immediate vicinity around court ‘Mabi’. Here in Stockholm this week the 5 tournament courts have all got names bringing a somewhat quirky feel to the announcements as umpires shout “Court Wilson 20 seconds”, “Court Stockholm 20 seconds”, “Court Powerade 20 seconds”, “Court Mabi 20 seconds” and “Court Flygbussarna 20 seconds”.

Axelsen finally took the match in 2 games and removed his shirt in the process (pictured). On my left, I heard the faint words from one wise old badminton veteran “This is exactly what our sport needs.”  I’ve got to say I one hundred percent agree.  What a show!!

Elsewhere in the men’s singles, number 1 seed Eric Pang of the Netherlands was taken to the wire by Zavadskyy of Ukraine in Round 1 before defeating Mathias Wigardt – the last of Sweden’s hopes after Henri Hurskainen was forced to retire through illness – as the Swede was unable to recapture the form that saw him impress in qualification.

A number of seeds fell in the women’s singles as a tough Round One draw saw the end of the Swedish line for Larisa Griga (2), Karina Jorgensen (5), Karin Schnasse (6) and the winner of both the Italian and Norway Opens Olga Konon (4).

For all results click HERE and make sure to tune into Badminton Europe TV for live streaming.