Badminton’s former world No. 1, Momota Kento, announced his international retirement at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday. The 29-year-old confirmed that his final tournament representing the Japan national team will be the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals taking place from April 27 to May 5 in Chengdu, China.
Despite being a two-time world champion, Momota is currently ranked 52nd in the qualifying race for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, placing him seventh among Japanese players. With only the top two from each National Olympic Committee securing a spot in the Games, Momota is facing a challenging road ahead.
In 2019, Momota had a remarkable season, winning a record 11 titles on the BWF Tour and earning the title of top men’s player. However, his career took a devastating turn in January of the following year when he was involved in a serious car accident in Kuala Lumpur that left him critically injured. After making a remarkable comeback to competition in December, Momota has struggled to regain his previous form. He faced disappointment at the Tokyo Games, failing to advance past the group stage, and has only managed to secure two tour wins since the life-changing accident. Despite his undeniable talent and achievements, Momota’s retirement marks the end of an era in the world of badminton.
