Kento Momota, a two-time world champion and former world rank 1 player, retired from the international badminton circuit.
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Kento Momota, the two-time world badminton champion and former world No. 1, has retired from international competition. The 29-year-old’s decision brings to a close a career marked by extraordinary highs and a challenging struggle after significant injuries.
Momota’s rise to dominance was meteoric, winning back-to-back World Championships in 2018 and 2019. However, in January 2020 when he was seriously injured in a car accident. The accident hampered his return to the court, with the athlete mentioning poor physical and mental difficulties as the primary reasons for his retirement.
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Momota said in a press conference that he cannot play at his expected level and that he has decided to step down due to his inability to return to his peak condition after the accident, despite his best efforts.
Momota’s final international appearance will be at the upcoming Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in Chengdu, China. He wanted to continue playing for his domestic Japanese team and focus on promoting the sport within his home country.
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Kento Momota had a great international career, he was the former world’s number-one player in badminton. He was at his peak in 2019 when he won 11 titles in which he only lost six matches out of 73. However, Kento’s injury and drop in ranking forced him to make this decision.
The badminton community has expressed sadness and respect for Kento Momota’s decision. Fellow players and coaches have offered support, recognizing the challenges he faced following a traumatic experience.
Kento Momota has left an impressive legacy in badminton. He was dominant in his prime and showed remarkable strength by fighting back from adversity. Despite his international career coming to an end, his story continues to inspire badminton fans all around the world.
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