PETALING JAYA: Danish shuttler Viktor Axelsen’s wait for an individual title this year continued after he suffered a shock defeat to Frenchman Toma Popov (pic) in the semi-final of the men’s singles at the European Championships.

World No. 1 and defending champion Axelsen was expected to set up an all-Danish final with world No. 4 Anders Antonsen but instead went down 19-21, 21-17, 9-21 to Popov in Saarbrucken, Germany on Saturday.