Axelsen underwent a back operation in April which he hasn´t recovered from sufficiently, he says on X.
Viktor Axelsen has been in close contact with doctors in Denmark and the German doctor who operated him and the Dane states in connection with his witdrawal:
"After careful consultation with my medical team, I’ve been advised to dedicate more time to my rehabilitation. As a result, I unfortunately won’t be able to get tournament-ready in time to compete safely at the upcoming World Championships."
"While it's tough to miss such a big event, I’m not discouraged. On the contrary, I’m highly motivated to keep pushing forward with my rehab and set myself a new goal to come back stronger", says Axelsen.
Axelsen has won the World Championships twice, in 2017 and 2022.