Former badminton world champion Kento Momota made the announcement on Thursday that he will be retiring from playing for the Japanese national team. At a press conference held in Tokyo, the 29-year-old revealed that he will be representing Japan for the last time at the Thomas Cup international team competition happening later this month in Chengdu, China. Momota had the honor of becoming the first Japanese man to win the world championship in 2018 and followed it up with another win the next year.
Unfortunately, a recent string of injuries has led Momota, a former world No. 1, to realize that he will not be able to qualify for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. He has come to terms with the fact that he cannot achieve his goal of reclaiming the top spot in the world rankings. Despite this, Momota expressed his gratitude for the fulfilling career he had while playing for the national team and expressed his desire to help others find joy through sports.
During his peak, Momota was a dominant force in badminton and amassed a record of 11 singles titles in the 2019 season. However, his career was marred by controversy and tragedy. In 2016, he was suspended for gambling at illegal casinos in Japan, which cost him the opportunity to compete for a medal at the Rio Olympics. Additionally, he was involved in a car crash near Kuala Lumpur in early 2020, resulting in the death of the van driver and a significant setback in his career.
Despite these challenges, Momota is determined to continue playing domestically in events like the national championships and the professional S/J League. He is looking forward to the next chapter in his career and is eager to make a positive impact through his involvement in sports.