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#1 Viktor Axelsen
Towards the end of last year, Viktor Axelsen had told Sportskeeda that he wanted to focus on doing well at the All England Championships and the World Championships in 2017. While he faltered at the former, he fulfilled his promise at the latter.
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This was a year in which Axelsen truly blossomed and came into his own. Ever since he was crowned the world junior champion in 2010, there was never any doubt of the immense talent that he is endowed with. But it took him some time to achieve his potential.
Last year’s Rio Olympic bronze medal and the World Superseries Finals title gave him what was earlier missing -- unwavering self-belief. The 23-year-old rode on it to find success at the World Championships, the World Superseries Finals, the Japan Open and the India Open, all of which contributed to sending up to the pinnacle of the world rankings.
He pretty much mastered every top shuttler this year. From Lin Dan to Lee Chong Wei, Chen Long, Srikanth Kidambi and Son Wan Ho, everyone succumbed to the Dane, bolstering his case as the world’s current best shuttler.
