Controversy, Tragedy, and Triumph: Kento Momota’s Retirement from Japanese Badminton Team

Badminton world champion Kento Momota has announced his retirement from the Japanese national team at the age of 29. He made the announcement at a press conference in Tokyo, stating that he would represent Japan for the last time at the Thomas Cup international team competition in Chengdu, China later this month.

Momotas career was marked by controversy and tragedy. He was suspended for gambling at illegal casinos in Japan, which led to him missing out on competing for a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Additionally, he was involved in a car crash in early 2020 that claimed the life of the driver of the van he was traveling in. Despite these challenges, Momota managed to win another title in November 2021 after a year-long drought following the accident. However, his appearance at the Tokyo Olympics was disappointing as he made an early exit in the group stages.

At his peak, Momota was a dominant force in badminton winning a record 11 singles titles in 2019 season. He made history as the first Japanese man to win world championships in 2018 and successfully defended his title the following year. However, recent injuries dashed his hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics leading him to retire from international competition. He expressed his realization that he could no longer reach the pinnacle of sport and become world No. 1 again.

Momotas fulfilling career playing for national team inspired him to help others find enjoyment in sports going forward. In moving forward, Momota plans to continue playing domestically in national championships and professional S/J League as he transitions to next phase of his career