#2 Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
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The highly-talented Viktor Axelsen came into his own in 2016, putting together the most consistent as well as the most memorable season of his young career. The 22-year-old, touted as a future world champion for a long time, finally broke his Superseries duck after six earlier failures by winning the biggest of them all – the Dubai World Superseries Finals.
The mighty accomplishment that pushed him up to a career-high No. 3, was not his only highlight of the past season. At the Rio Olympics, the former junior world champion toppled the defending champion Lin Dan in the bronze-medal match after coming back from a game down to clinch the bronze.
The lanky Dane also conquered the European Championships, beating his senior compatriot Jan O Jorgensen, establishing himself as one of the very best the continent has ever produced.
