Source: REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO
[Saba Sports News] Yesterday, Japan’s TV Asahi evening news program broadcast an exclusive interview with former badminton world number one Kento Momota, which aroused strong attention from fans. In the interview, Kento Momota revealed a shocking fact: his eyes have never healed after a car accident in Malaysia in 2020, and it is likely that they will never heal again in the future. Momota said that the reason why he chose to conceal the truth at the beginning was because he did not want to use it as an excuse to escape reality. He had thought about overcoming the injury with his own efforts. Momota said frankly that the moment he made the decision to retire, the burden and pressure he had carried for many years disappeared instantly. In the 2024 Thomas Cup team competition that ended not long ago, the Japanese team performed poorly in singles and lost two games in a row. Momota, who was the third singles player, failed to get a chance to play. In the end, the Japanese team lost to the Malaysian team 1-3, failing to advance to the semi-finals. In the subsequent press conference, Momota announced his retirement, but he promised to continue to engage in badminton-related activities in some form.