Source:
REUTERS/IBRAHEEM AL OMARI
[Saba
Sports News] In conjunction with the Chinese Lunar New Year, which marks the
Year of the Dragon in China, Viktor Axelsen, the renowned Danish badminton
player currently ranked No. 1 in men’s singles, recently took to his social
media platforms to extend New Year greetings to his Chinese fans and netizens.
Axelsen’s affinity for China is evident as he even has the word
“dragon” incorporated into his Chinese name. At the age of 19,
Axelsen began learning Chinese with the goal of coming to China to enhance his
badminton skills. He believes that being fluent in Chinese not only improves
his communication with Chinese coaches and athletes but also allows him to gain
a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. Axelsen is not only well-versed in
the Chinese language but is also familiar with the symbolism of the Chinese
dragon and the traditional customs of the Spring Festival. The inclusion of the
word “dragon” in Axelsen’s Chinese name was a joint decision made by
his Chinese teacher and himself. The character “An” is derived from
the phonetic similarity to his last name, while “dragon” represents
the Chinese dragon, symbolizing masculinity. By adding the character “龙” (dragon) to
his Chinese name, Axelsen expresses his personal aspirations, and he has
certainly lived up to them, currently holding the top position in the world
badminton men’s singles rankings.