After 132 weeks, Viktor Axelsen loses his top spot in rankings ahead of Paris 2024.

 

Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen held the top spot for 132 weeks, but the new rankings released on Tuesday (11 June) show Shi Yuqi at the summit for the first time.

People’s Republic of China shuttler Shi’s rise to the top comes after consecutive tournament wins at the Singapore Open and Indonesia Open,

while Axelsen was forced to withdraw from the Indonesia Open with injury.

The last time Denmark’s Axelsen was not ranked first among men was the week of 23 November 2021, when Japan’s Momota Kento held top spot for the last time before his retirement.

Axelsen will look to defend his Olympic title at the Paris 2024 Games, which begin on July 27.