Paris Olympics: Viktor Axelsen, battling to retain badminton gold, also a smash in Mandarin

Badminton may not be the only thing world No 2 Viktor Axelsen excels in – he has also proved to be a multilingual warrior.

Axelsen overcame Singapore sensation Loh Kean Yew in the quarter-finals in his quest to retain his Olympic singles medal.

But the Dane has made headlines in China as much for his ability off the court as on it.

Before the Games, he showed off his impressive language skills by conducting an interview in Mandarin.

Axelsen, a two-time badminton world champion, discussed his admiration for Chinese players and his fascination with the Chinese language, winning the adulation of social media users worldwide.

Known for his relentless and purposeful training, Axelsen has long been a prominent figure in the badminton world.