Momota Kento, the former world No. 1 badminton player from Japan, announced his retirement at a press conference in Tokyo on April 18th. The 29-year-old confirmed that his last tournament representing the Japan national team will be the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in Chengdu, China from April 27th to May 5th.
In recent years, Momota has struggled to regain his previous form after a serious car accident in Kuala Lumpur in January 2020 nearly took his life. Despite making a comeback to competition in December, he has only secured two tour victories since then and was unable to advance out of the group stage at the Tokyo Olympics.
As a two-time world champion, Momota currently holds the 52nd ranking in the qualifying race for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, placing him seventh among Japanese players. Only the top two players from each National Olympic Committee are able to qualify for the Games.
Momotas remarkable season in 2019 saw him win an impressive 11 titles on the BWF Tour and earn the title of top men’s player. However, this success came to an abrupt end with his involvement in a serious car accident in Kuala Lumpur that nearly claimed his life.
Further updates on Momotas retirement are expected to follow in the coming days as he reflects on his career and looks ahead to what lies ahead.
