Who can challenge Chong Wei for world No1?

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  • Lee Chong Wei.

    World No1 Lee Chong Wei is one of the greatest badminton players of all time and continues to capture the imagination of the millions of fans who follow the sport worldwide.

    With 65 career titles to his name, the 33-year-old looks virtually unbeatable at times on the Badminton World Federation circuit.

    With two months to go until the Dubai World Superseries Finals roll in to Hamdan Sports Complex, can the Malaysian continue his tremendous dominance or will his superb run finally be curtailed by Chen Long?

    Here, Sport360 looks at three players who have the chance to challenge Chong Wei.

    CHEN LONG (China) – WORLD NUMBER. 2 

    One of the sport’s key figures, world number two Long is the reigning Olympic champion and a two-time world champion.

    The Chinaman has the potential to beat Lee Chong Wei on his day, and highlighted his class with a recent victory over the Malaysian in the Rio Olympics final.

    Both players are evenly poised, holding a 13-13 record against each other – with Long prevailing in five out of their last nine games.

    At 27, Long is six years younger than Chong Wei and has all the skills to be a long-term world number one.

    LIN DAN (China) – WORLD NUMBER. 3

    Another Chinaman who possesses a glittering professional record, Dan is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion.

    A former world number one, the 32-year-old holds a formidable record of 585 wins and 80 losses on the BWF Tour.

    Dan’s rivalry with Chong Wei stretches back twelve years, with the Chinaman securing a more impressive head-to-head record of 25 wins against the Malaysian’s 12.

    In their last three meetings, Chong Wei has beaten his rival, with the most recent game at the Rio Olympics.

    VIKTOR AXELSEN (Denmark) – WORLD NUMBER. 4 

    Danish prodigy Viktor Axelsen is one of the most talented players on the circuit and currently holds the world number four spot.

    A bronze medalist at Rio, the 22-year-old also reached finals at the Australian Open and Japan Open Super Series.

    He’s yet to beat Chong Wei in their nine encounters so far, but judging by his burgeoning form, could 2016-17 be the time to upset the world number one?

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