Momota’s moment
Shuttler is first Japanese to win the men’s singles world title
JAPANESE shuttler Kento Momota is on top of the world – for all the right reasons.
The 24-year-old claimed his maiden major title in style by whipping China’s Shi Yuqi 21-11, 21-13 in the men’s singles final of the World Championships at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park Arena yesterday.
The feat made him the first Japanese to be crowned the men’s singles world champion.
The victory completed a remarkable return from a 15-month ban over a gambling issue.
Momota reached a career-best second in the world rankings when he was at his peak but his progress was curtailed by the ban slapped on him by the Japan Badminton Association in April 2016.
He missed his first best chance for a major crown at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But Momota showed the world he was not a quitter.
He started his journey back to the top 13 months ago and the world champion is now ready to kickstart a long domination that had been delayed.
World No. 7 Momota declared he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan by having a long-lasting successful career.
“I want to be like Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, who ruled the world of badminton for a long, long time,” said Momota.
“They don’t only boast longevity, but they have always displayed top quality to entertain their fans.”
On capturing his first world crown, Momota said he owed his success to the people who have backed him while he was serving his ban.
“I’m very happy to become the first Japanese world champion (in the men’s singles). It’s a massive honour but this victory doesn’t belong to myself,” he said.
“It would not have been possible without the support I received from the people around me.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of them, I hope I have made them proud with the victory.”
The world crown marked his ninth victory in 11 finals he has reached since returning to competitive action in July last year.
He has also won 32 out of his 33 matches since winning the Vietnam International Challenge in March, losing only to Chong Wei in the final of the Malaysian Open.
“I’m enjoying my form right now. I feel like I’m in a better position and stronger than the past.”
“But I don’t want to pressure myself too much despite having won the world title. I will slowly make my way up.”
The 22-year-old Yuqi was philosophical in his defeat despite failing to live up to the fans’ expectation, who wanted to see him join the elite with Lin Dan and Chen Long.
“Today’s second-place finish is a breakthrough for me,” he said.
“It means there’s still plenty of room for improvement. I’ll go back to train harder and come back stronger, hopefully at the Asian Games which is just 10 days away.”
After Malaysia witnessed the rebirth of Liew Daren – once tagged as an underachiever – in his badminton career, he stood proud alongside the big names like Japan’s Kento Momota, China’s Shi Yuqi and Chen Long during the prize presentation at the World Championships. And the transformed independent shuttler promised better things to come. “This bronze medal will count for nothing if I don’t progress from here. Tokyo 2020 is the ultimate goal. It’s my life-long ambition that remains unfulfilled, “he said.