The men’s singles final in a single frame: Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the world champion, smiling in resignation at his coach early in the second game after yet another thunderous smash winner from Viktor Axelsen.

The match had slipped away by then, and all Vitidsarn could do was hope for some respectability to the score.

It was threatening to be one of the most lopsided men’s singles finals in the Olympics: Axelsen off like a runaway train; Vitidsarn trailing in the dust. The counter-attacking game which is the Thai’s forte was never allowed to surface, with the Dane either killing the shuttle in the early exchanges, or denying Vitidsarn the pace to feed off in the longer rallies.

Vitidsarn did eventually manage double digits in both games, but he had been on the receiving end of a tactical masterclass from the reigning champion, executed to perfection. Unlike the semifinal against Lakshya Sen, when the Dane was in trouble in the opening game as he fended off pressure, Axelsen took charge from the very beginning.

How could it have gone so wrong for the world champion after his electric performances in the last two matches?

“Viktor doesn’t give you space on the court, he’s really full court,” Vitidsarn said. “And I had to attack better than I did.

“I had a lot of pressure in the game. Wow, it was so difficult to play. I really tried. I was physically fine, but today everything he did was very good.

“I made some easy mistakes. Viktor is very tall, if I cannot make him run on court, he will control me. I had to play good shots.”

And thus Axelsen joined Lin Dan as the only two-time men’s singles winner at the Olympics. The Dane refused to compare himself to the five-time world champion, noting that Lin Dan had better stats at other major tournaments.

“Lin Dan is the GOAT,” Axelsen said. “In Olympic terms we are equal, but he has way more titles at the All England, World Championships, Thomas Cup. In my eyes he stands as the best ever.”

Yet, what Axelsen did pitches him into a special league.

“When I won the first Olympic gold, I didn’t even dare to believe that I would be in this position right now, but it was also a little bit of a strange feeling winning the Olympics in front of not so many people, because of the COVID. There were no spectators.

“So to win here in front of thousands of Danish supporters – and most importantly my wife, our two daughters and my family and friends – it means a lot. All the hard work and all of the many hours of practice and sacrifices, this second gold medal just means actually more than the first one.

“To do it once is crazy; to do it twice … I don’t even know what to say. I’m still a little bit in shock.”

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