World No.1 Viktor Axelsen, who won the top prize at the Tokyo Olympics, joined the elite list of Denmark shuttlers after ending 20-year-old Lakshya Sen’s dream run in Birmingham to win his second All England Open title on Sunday.

All England Open final highlights

Viktor Axelsen dominated and took the opening game 21-10. There were very few highlights for the young Indian shutter in that game as Axelsen breezed through it. The Dane dominated the exchanges from the back of the court. Despite Lakshya being good at the net, he was not taking enough chances.

The Indian shutter outclassed defending champion Lee Zii Jia in a closely-fought battle, coming back from behind in the decider. The Almora shuttler was the first Indian man in 21 years to reach the final of the All England Championships. Only 3 Indian men Prakash Nath (1947), Prakash Padukone (1980 and 1981) and Pullela Gopichand (2001) have been there and done that before Lakshya. Only Padukone and Gopichand have won the prestigious title for India. Saina Nehwal reached the final in 2015 only to lose to Spanish star Carolina Marin.

Lakshya had beaten Olympic champion Axelsen (German Open), Olympic bronze medalist Anthony Ginting (All England), world champion Loh Kean Yew (India Open), world bronze medalist Anders Antonsen (All England) and last year’s winner Lee (All England) and had all the tools to make it count on Sunday but the Danish star brought his game in Birmingham.