Viktor Axelsen has reached his first World Championship final ©Getty Images

Denmark's Viktor Axelsen dethroned defending champion Chen Long with semi-final victory at the Badminton World Federation World Championships in Glasgow.

The Dane thrashed the Chinese player, who is also the Rio 2016 Olympic champion, 21-9, 21-10 at the Emirates Arena in the Scottish city.

It means that Axelsen, the third seed, has avenged his defeat to Chen in the semi-finals of Rio 2016.

He went on to win bronze in the Brazilian city with the 2016 European champion now into his first world final.

A European player has not won the men's crown since Axelsen's compatriot Peter Rasmussen did so in 1997.

"I feel so happy," said Axelsen.

"I can't believe I just beat Chen Long in straight games. 

"I never expected to win that comfortably. 

"I made very few errors.

"I am so proud but I am not done yet. 

"I have another match to focus on tomorrow.

“Denmark is a small country but I am very proud that we can compete with the bigger countries. 

"It's a dream come true.

"Ever since I was a little boy, I dreamed of being in a World Championships final."

India's PV Sindhu reached the women's final ©Getty Images
India's PV Sindhu reached the women's final ©Getty Images

Axelsen will face the challenge of another Chinese Olympic champion in the final as Beijing 2008 and London 2012 winner Lin Dan knocked out South Korea's top seed Son-Wan ho.

Lin, who is aiming for a sixth world title, came through 21-17, 21-14.

In the women's competition, Japan's Nozomi Okuhara came from behind to reach the final.

The Olympic bronze medallist, who dethroned Spain's back-to-back champion and Rio 2016 winner Carolina Marin yesterday, saw off India's Saina Nehwal 12-21, 21-17, 21-10.

Waiting for Okuhara in the final will be another Indian as Rio 2016 silver medallist PV Sindhu progressed.

She defeated China's 19-year-old Chen Yufei 21-13, 21-10.

Both singles finals will be played tomorrow with the doubles events also reaching a conclusion.

The men's doubles final will pit Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan and Rian Agung Saputro against China's Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan.

In the women's doubles showpiece, China's Chen Qingchen and  Jia Yifan will battle Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota.

Chen will also play in the mixed final with Zheng Siwei, against Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia.