Denmark' s Viktor Axelsen wins Dubai badminton men's singles title

DUBAI, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Danish top shuttler Viktor Axelsen defeated China's Tian Houwei in three sets 21-14, 6-21, 21-17 in the men' s singles final of the Badminton World Federation' s (BWF) Dubai World Superseries Finals here on Sunday.

"I feel really good. I have been in the final so many times so it makes me really happy," said 1.94-meter tall Axelsen who finished runner-up in 2015.

A visibly motivated Axelsen, 22, quickly moved to lead and almost looked like to secure the victory.

In the second set Axelsen, bronze medalist at the Rio Olympic Games, found no way to break Tian' s agile power play.

In the third set Axelsen made several unforced errors, but his motivation never flagged.

After one hour and three minutes it was all over. Fuzhou-born Tian failed to catch up with Axelsen' s aggressive pace and eventually lost the third set 17-21.

"It is not about height, and it is not about nerves, but I made several mistakes and this should not happen," said 1.79-meter tall Tian.