Kento Momota: back on the winning track

The world no.1 made his first The BWF world tour appearance at the 2021 All England Championships after his career-threatening car accident which took place when he was returning to the Kuala Lumpur airport after his Malaysian Master’s win in January 2020.

Momota suffered multiple injuries and had an issue with his eyesight too. It took him close to 10 months to get back on the court. Momota played the All Japan Championship in December 2020 and won the domestic league. Momota planned to return to the international men’s singles circuit in January 2021 and gave his entry at the BWF Thailand Open but had to pull out as he was tested positive for COVID-19.

The champion shuttler returned to action in March 2021 at the All England Championships and made it to the quarterfinals where he lost to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in straight sets.

A lot was expected out of Momota at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but he fell way short of expectation as he failed to go past the group stage.

The BWF Sudirman Cup is the first official tournament after the Olympics. Japan were drawn in Group D alongside Malaysia, England, and Egypt. So far in the group stage matches, Japan and Kento Momota have been unbeaten and made their way into the knockout stage.

A glimpse of vintage Momota was displayed in Thursday's match against Malaysia. The world no.1 played against Lee Zii Jia, and to everyone’s surprise, Momota overpowered the Malaysian challenge with ease, winning the match in straight games 21-18, 21-10.

In first of the knockout stage matches, Japan are up against Chinese Taipei, and we just hope that Kento Momota continues his fine form and makes it through to the Finals.