Badminton News: Japan’s Kento Momota will return to Malaysia for the first time after a painful accident two years ago following his victory at the Malaysia Masters.
Second-seeded Kento Momota leads a star-studded team at the Malaysian Open June 28-July 3 with the top 10 players in men’s singles except China’s Chen Long.
Men’s Singles Coaching Director Wong Choong Hann is delighted that the Malaysian Open is back after two years with great excitement and welcomes World No. 2 Momota and other top players.
“It’s good that the sport is coming back to life in Malaysia after so long,” said Choong Hann.
The last time Momota competed in Malaysia, he returned home with eye and nose injuries after a terrible car accident.
The Japanese player, who was in top form to date, had to have eye surgery and hasn’t reached the same size since.
But he will be looking to rediscover the form of form that saw him win two world titles in 2018, 2019 and many other honours, including the Malaysia Masters before this incident.
He showed signs of revival reaching the Danish Open final and winning the Indonesian Masters last year, but this year he has been inconsistent.
While Momota is still looking for his best form, Malaysian world number 5 Lee Zii Jia, who is in the best shape of his life, will be looking to win his first title on home soil.
Besides Kento Momota and Zii Jia, the other seeds and title contenders are Olympic champion and top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan, Thomas Cup winner Lakshya Sen of India, world champion from Singapore, Loh Kean Yew and Anthony Ginting and Jonathan Christie from Indonesia.
The last Malaysian Open held in 2019 was won by China’s Lin Dan, while the last Malaysian to claim a singles victory was Lee Chong Wei, who claimed his 12th title on home soil in 2018.
Tags: kento momota, Lee Zii Jia, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, Malaysian Open 2022
Published by Ligaolahraga.com at https://www.ligaolahraga.com/badminton/kento-momota-return-ke-malaysia-open-pasca-kecelakaan-dua-tahun-lalu
