Source: REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO
[Saba Sports News] If you were to vote
for the most frustrated men’s singles badminton player of the 2023 season, it
is expected that many fans would cast their vote for the former world number
one Japanese player, Kento Momota. Since the Tokyo Olympics, Momota’s world
ranking has significantly dropped due to injury issues. In the 2023 season, he
only participated in a few lower-level events and managed to secure his sole
championship title of the year at the Korean Masters in November. Recently, the
Japan Badminton Association released the roster for the upcoming major World
Badminton League events in early 2024. Given Momota’s poor physical condition,
he will only be able to participate as a substitute in the three-stop tour
scheduled for January next year. These events are the Malaysia Badminton Open
(a 1000-level tournament) from January 9-14, 2024; the Indian Badminton Open (a
750-level tournament) from January 16-21, 2024; and the Indonesia Badminton Masters
(a 500-level tournament) from January 23-28, 2024. Since there are no
qualifying rounds for these three events, Momota’s participation in the main
event will depend on whether any team members withdraw due to injuries. If no
team member withdraws, the former world number one player will only be able to
accompany the team as a training partner.