Viktor Axelsen Drops to World No.8 in BWF Rankings

According to the latest BWF rankings released today, Viktor Axelsen has dropped two spots to world No. 8. The Danish star now sits behind Chou Tien Chen and Kodai Naraoka, who are ranked sixth and seventh respectively.

Axelsen’s ranking decline comes after undergoing back surgery in early April — an injury that has required a longer recovery period than initially expected. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is expected to return to action at the 2025 World Championships in late August.

Meanwhile, Jonatan Christie, who recently transitioned to a professional career, is now in close competition with Chou Tien Chen, trailing by just 4,135 points. The Indonesian athlete will continue his title pursuit at the 2025 Singapore Open, where he will face Nhat Nguyen of Ireland in the opening round.