In a move that has sent shockwaves through the badminton community, Kento Momota, a decorated champion and former beacon of Japan’s badminton aspirations, has announced his retirement from the international circuit. The surprise revelation came as the athlete disclosed that the upcoming Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in Chengdu would be his last wearing the Japanese colors on the international stage.
At 29 years old, Momota’s career boasts a litany of achievements, including his reign as the men’s singles champion at the BWF World Championships in both 2018 and 2019. His storied journey, however, took a tragic turn following his victory at the 2019 BWF World Championships in Basel. On the way to the airport from the Malaysia Masters, the vehicle carrying Momota was involved in a catastrophic crash that would forever change the trajectory of his career. The driver succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident, and Momota was forced to undergo intensive surgery to mend his fractured eye socket—a procedure that had significant ramifications on his ability to play at the zenith of the sport.
In a heartfelt press briefing held in Tokyo this past Thursday, Momota opened up about the inner turmoil he faced post-accident. “I’m not going to lie, after the accident I’ve asked myself, ‘Why me?'” Momota confessed to the press. He spoke of the relentless challenges that followed the traumatic event, but insisted on confronting them without casting blame. It was a testament to his fortitude that, supported by a legion of fans and well-wishers, he managed to return to the court despite the odds stacked against him.
However, with a current world ranking at 52nd in the men’s singles and with Olympic qualification out of reach, Momota shared his resignation in reclaiming his former glory. The Paris Olympics, a stage where athletes shimmer with the prospect of immortality, would proceed without him. His acknowledgment of the insurmountable gap that has developed between the player he once was and the player he has become since the accident was sobering. Momota lamented, “Since the accident in January 2020, there was a lot of hardship. I tried so many things but I just couldn’t close the emotional, physical gap between who I used to be and who I am. I felt I couldn’t become world No. 1 again.”
The effects of his injuries were palpable—not only did he struggle with double vision as a result of the eye surgery, but his endurance and agility on the court deteriorated. One of badminton’s quintessential artists, once capable of majestic play, found his body unable to translate his strategic nous into the electrifying movements that had been his hallmark. With heartbreaking candor, he confided, “I couldn’t move on the court the way I wanted to, I’d get tired like I never used to. I tried. But I just felt it was no longer possible to keep up with the world’s best players.”
As Momota prepares to end his international journey, the badminton world pauses to honor a remarkable career that has been equally matched by grace and grit. His final bow at the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals not only marks the culmination of his time on the global stage but also serves as a somber reminder of the fragility of an athlete’s prime. This announcement may signal the end of an era for Japan’s badminton ambitions, but the legacy of Kento Momota, a player whose talent and perseverance transcended borders, will persist as an inspiration for generations to come.
