{"id":2978,"date":"2026-01-02T04:47:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T04:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/?p=2978"},"modified":"2026-01-02T04:47:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T04:47:31","slug":"axelsen-and-other-notable-absentees-at-2026-bwf-malaysia-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotvnow.com\/read\/axelsen-and-other-notable-absentees-at-2026-bwf-malaysia-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Axelsen and other notable absentees at 2026 BWF Malaysia Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

Badminton fans can get excited once again as the BWF World Tour resumes for the 2026 season, kicking off with the Malaysia Open at the Axiata Arena from January 6-11.<\/p>\n

As one of the most prestigious tournaments on the circuit, the Kuala Lumpur event traditionally attracts the world\u2019s top shuttlers and sets the tone for the year ahead.<\/p>\n

However, this year\u2019s opening action will be missing several high-profile names, as a number of leading players have been forced to withdraw. Here are some of them.<\/p>\n

Viktor Axelsen<\/h3>\n

The Danish men\u2019s singles ace will miss not only the Malaysia Open but also the following week\u2019s India Open, as his back problems have unfortunately carried over into 2026. Last year, Axelsen managed to compete in only eight World Tour tournaments, as well as the second edition of the BXL Jakarta event.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Viktor Axelsen (@viktoraxelsen)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n