Shuttler Axelsen from Denmark becomes new world No. 1

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Danish shuttler Viktor Axelsen, who won the World Championships title in August, dethroned South Korean player Son Wan Ho on Thursday to become the new World No. 1, according to the latest Badminton World Federation world rankings.

Axelsen, 23, climbed to the top with 76,200 points, thanks to his win over former World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia at the Japan Open Super Series final this week.

At the Glasgow, Scotland World Championships, he put up a stunning show and beat five-time world champion Lin Dan. Before that, he also prevailed over Lin and won the Rio Olympics bronze medal.

Axelsen has also made history of becoming the first European to reach the top of the rankings since Peter Gade in 2006.

Lin Dan ranked third while Shi Yuqi fifth. Chen Long, who has had a lackluster performance at Glasgow, ranked sixth, one place before Lee Chong Wei, who was also eliminated early.

In the women's singles, Tai Tzu Ying continued to dominate while Carolina Marin, who won the Japan Open, climbed to fourth.