Denmark’s world and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen remains on course for a successful defence of his men’s singles title at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals despite being beaten today in Bangkok ©Getty Images

Denmark’s world and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen remains on course for a successful defence of his men’s singles title at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals despite being beaten today in Bangkok.

The 28-year-old from Odense went down 21-14, 17-21, 18-21 to India’s H.S Prannoy but still qualified for tomorrow’s men’s singles semi-finals.

There he will meet the up and coming talent of Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, who had a 21-19, 21-15 win over China’s Lu Guang Zu.

The other side of the men’s semi-finals draw will feature Indonesian rivals Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Jonatan Christie.

Ginting confirmed his progress with a 21-12, 23-21 win over Lo Kean Yew of Singapore, while his compatriot beat Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen 21-13, 12-21, 21-17.

Meanwhile the defending women’s champion, South Korea’s An Se-young, saw her chances of progressing disappear after suffering a second loss, this time to China’s Chen Yu Fei, who advanced to a last-four place against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, who has also beaten An in this tournament.

China are also represented in the other women’s semi-final where He Bing Jiao will meet Chinese Taipei’s former world number one Tai Tzu-Ying, who defeated Indonesia’s Ratchanok Intanon 21-10, 12-21, 21-7.