Momota makes history in worlds
China claim victory in men’s doubles, mixed doubles
Kento Momota dedicated his world title on Sunday to those who stuck by him when a gambling scandal threatened to wreck the history-maker’s budding career.
The explosive 23-year-old convincingly defeated China’s highly promising Shi Yuqi 2111, 21-13 in Nanjing, becoming the first Japanese man to win the World Championships.
Momota’s career descended into controversy in 2016 when Japanese badminton chiefs suspended him for more than a year for visiting an illegal casino, denying him a place at the Rio Olympics.
Momota, No.2 in the world at the time, has been working his way back to the top ever since and was the pre-tournament favorite in Nanjing.
After dismissing Shi, Momota was coy about his temporary absence from the sport, but said after a pause, “There was a time when I was away ... But I got a lot of help and support from many people, this title is a good reward for them.”
Momota, now seventh in the rankings, said he wanted to emulate greats Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, two superstars who have reigned over badminton for well over a decade.
Lee missed the event due to illness and Lin was well beaten by Shi in the third round.
After the game, Momota apologized to Shi, who was playing in front of his homeprovince crowd and appeared nervous.
Third seed Shi, 22, defeated compatriots Lin and Olympic champion Chen Long on the way to the final to confirm a changing of the guard in Chinese men’s badminton.
“That is why they call me the hope of Chinese badminton, but I need to improve on all fronts,” he said.
In the ladies’ singles, Carolina Marin claimed her own slice of history as the Spaniard became the first woman to win three badminton world crowns with an emphatic victory over P.V. Sindhu of India.
There were tears of joy from the 25-year-old Marin after her victory over the unfortunate Sindhu in the women’s final.
The aggressive Marin is now the reigning world and Olympic champion thanks to a ruthless 21-19, 21-10 win.
The all-action Spaniard adds the 2018 world crown to her titles in 2014 and 2015, and the Olympic gold she won at Sindhu’s expense at Rio 2016.
“I feel really happy, I cannot describe my emotions now, I have so many inside,” said Marin, who was imperious all week despite being a modest seventh in the seedings.
Third seed Sindhu, 23, well known for her never-say-die spirit, has now suffered a string of near-misses.
As well as disappointment at Rio, Sindhu was beaten in last year’s worlds final by Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara and had to settle for silver at this year’s Commonwealth Games too.
Sindhu said she could not live with the pace of Marin, before saying another final defeat is “frustrating and quite sad.”
Also on Sunday, China’s Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen claimed the men’s pairs title by defeating Japan’s Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda 21-12, 21-19.
China’s Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong won the mixed doubles in a 21-17, 21-19 win over compatriots Wang Yilü and Huang Dongping.