KUALA LUMPUR: Viktor Axelsen's relentless motivation and hunger have been hailed as the driving forces behind the Dane's remarkable badminton career, says his former coach Kenneth Jonassen.
Axelsen, who turned 31 today, remains a formidable competitor despite his age, with Jonassen confident that the two-time Olympic champion can continue racking up honours in the years ahead.
"Axelsen is special when it comes to motivation and hunger. These qualities have pushed him to achieve more in his career," said Jonassen, the newly appointed national singles coach at Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara today.
"If he sustains these strong characteristics, he will remain a threat for all, including Malaysian players, in the coming years.
"He has turned 31, and maintaining his physical strength will be vital to minimise injury risks."
The world No. 4 has also been strategic in managing his schedule, skipping events to preserve his form.
Axelsen was recently fined US$5,000 (RM22,500) by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for pulling out of the World Tour Finals (WTF) last month due to a leg injury.
Jonassen backed the decision.
"It was a good choice for him not to play at the WTF as he was not 100 per cent ready.
"When Axelsen is fit, he is a strong contender in any tournament. I believe he will produce a strong challenge in the Malaysia Open."
Axelsen is aiming for a hat-trick of Malaysia Open titles after his 2022 and 2023 triumphs.
This year, he kicks off against India's world No. 12 Lakshya Sen.
His path to glory is anything but straightforward, with potential clashes against China's world No. 7 Li Shi Feng in the quarter-finals and top seed Shi Yu Qi in the semi-finals.
In last year's edition, Axelsen fell short against Yu Qi in the semi-finals.