As for BWF badminton federation doing a better job at scheduling the matches I totally agree. Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk
Can Kento become Superman? Can Kento become Superman?, Latest Others News - The New Paper (straitstimes.com) Japan’s Kento Momota on his way to a 21-17, 21-11 win over Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the Indonesia Masters final. It was his first post-crash international trophy. PHOTO: AFP World No. 1 eyes BWF World Tour Finals win to make up for Olympic nightmare Nov 30, 2021 06:00 am Kento Momota suffered a career-threatening car crash and then flopped at the Tokyo Olympics, but the Japanese badminton star can end a turbulent two years on a high at this week's BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Tour Finals. The world No. 1 won the Indonesia Masters earlier this month - his first international title since being badly injured in the January 2020 accident - but then endured a shock defeat by Singapore's world No. 26 Loh Kean Yew in the last 16 at last week's Indonesia Open. It was typical of the roller-coaster journey that the 27-year-old has been on since he was almost forced to retire after fracturing his eye socket in the car crash. Momota said that his "spirit was almost broken" as he tried to recover from the accident - hours after he won the Malaysia Masters - which killed the driver of the vehicle taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport. He suffered double vision and needed surgery on a bone near his eye that delayed his comeback, leaving him fearing his career was over. "I thought about it. How long will it take?" he said in March last year, when asked if he was worried he might never play again. Momota made a full recovery and headed into the Tokyo Games in July as the favourite. But his Olympic dream turned into a nightmare when he was eliminated in the group stage. Momota admitted his killer instinct had deserted him and blamed his own "weakness" for the shock exit. "Previously, when a match went like this, I would be able to recover and think clearly," said a visibly stunned Momota. It was the latest unhappy chapter in his Olympic career, following a dramatic fall from grace just months before the 2016 Rio Games. He admitted gambling in an illegal casino with a fellow player in April 2016, and was kicked off Japan's Olympic team and banned from competition indefinitely. He returned a year later and set about making up for lost time, beating then-Olympic champion Chen Long for the Asian title in April 2018 before working his way back up the rankings. His comeback reached a climax in 2019 when he won a record-breaking 11 titles, including at the World Championships, Asian Championships and All England Open. The left-hander lost just six of his 73 matches that year and admitted he had surprised even himself with his blistering form. "I feel like I am not yet a legendary player but I will work hard in order to play well in future tournaments," he said. But then came the accident and a pandemic that forced the cancellation of badminton tournaments all over the world. He played his first match in almost a year at Japan's national championships in Tokyo last December, starting tentatively before beating Kanta Tsuneyama in the final. His hopes of returning to international competition were then dashed when he tested positive for Covid-19 at the airport in January as the Japan team were about to depart for the Thailand Open. He eventually resumed international play at the All England Open in March, but lost in the quarter-finals. His form since his Tokyo Games heartbreak has been mixed. While his name Kento is reportedly a tribute to Superman's alter ego Clark Kent, Momota has shown he is only human. Now he's hoping he can be the "Man of Steel" by capping off his latest comeback with victory at the Tour Finals in Bali. - REUTERS
After retiring from this match, Momota revealed to Badpal that he had injured his back during training. Having finally managed to secure a place in the WTF, he is vexed, feels miserable, and apologises to everyone for this result.
Hope he recovers in time for WC. Will he have to play against Axelsen? Will he stay in Bali or fly immediately to Spain for recovery and training?
It's worrying, isn't it. Momota is seeded No.1 and Axelsen, No. 2. If they meet at all, it won't be before the Finals of the WC. I imagine that Momota will be staying in Bali until the end of the WTF. The team will be flying to Spain together.
I wanted to write something cynical about Paris, but f.... it. I hope he it's not too serious and he can recover in time for Spain. We know he's not faking it.
Wait, so in the World Tour Finals, is the dream match up between Axelsen, who's been doing really well this year, and Momota who seemed to have been regaining his form, not going to happen? Very disappointing that Momota is now prone to injury and moving forward may have on or off tournaments depending on it.
@kurako any update on Momota's backpain condition? Watanabe Kouki's Instagram story has just shown that it's too too hot in the gymnasium in Bali, which I think is not good for their training and health at all.
Due to COVID-19, there does not seem to be much in the way of Japanese media presence in Indonesia. It is difficult to get any details. In an article carried by Nikkan Sports this morning, Momota is quoted as saying the following: "I decided to retire because my back hurt to the extent that I was unable to play a match. If at all possible, I would have liked to have played to the end, but I was not even in the condition to do that. I am so frustrated." According to the article, Momota is now going to try to prepare for the WC. In a post by Badpal, Momota apparently owned up to over-training when not in the best condition to do so. As far as I can see, he has been struggling physically since the Final of the Denmark Open. I really can't see him fully recovering in time for the WC or the AJC.
The nightmare for Kento continues ( I notice recently, he has really up his netting (for 2020 and 2021 standard). I hope he can just rest and come back top shape. Whether he can win 2021 WC is not important.
He has withdrawed due to his back injury. Btw. most indonesian players has withdrawed too due to omicron.
Momota is all silence. No press reports. Not a whimper. What is clear is that he will not be participating in the All Japan Championships at the end of this month. His name is not on the updated list of qualified players. It has been a hell of a year. Initially, NBA mismanagement/COVID-imposed restrictions resulted in inadequate training opportunities for all Japanese players, who remained isolated throughout the country. Confidence and motivation dipped all-round, with serious ramifications. Matters weren't helped when Momota contracted COVID-19 himself, resulting in his absence (and that of all Bird Japan) from the important Asia Tour at the beginning of the year. This was followed by a lacklustre performance at the AE, ... and by something much more worrying at the Olympic Games. Then, in the latter part of the year, just when he was starting to regain his rhythm, Momota succumbed to a back injury at an incredibly crucial time. Whilst the loss of his WR1 ranking was already on the cards, through that injury, he also lost the chance to defend his title at the World Championships and now the All Japan Championships. ... I think that this year, Momota's worst nightmare came true. Here's hoping for a resurgence in 2022. 桃田、ファイト!ファイト!ファイト!
he should know which important, which not. If he didn't try hard with Loh Kean Yew, he can play WTF, or even WC and All Japan. Just try hard one match and throw out 3 important tournaments. he should blame himself.