Former world champion Kento Momota won the Lin Dan Cup in Wuhan on Sunday, claiming his first tournament victory 30 months after retiring from international competition. The 32-year-old Japanese men’s singles player earned 200,000 yuan (RM122,255) for the victory after accepting a personal request from Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan to compete in the invitational series.
Victory in Wuhan After Back Surgery Delays
Momota secured the title with a hard-fought 13-15, 15-6, 15-13 win over former Chinese national player Wang Zheng Xing in the final. He was originally scheduled to compete in a Lin Dan Cup leg in July last year but withdrew to undergo back surgery. Before reaching the final, Momota defeated tournament regulars Zhou Ze Qi, Liu Ze Qing, and Chen Wenjie during the three-day event.
“Thank you, everyone, for your support — really feeling tired,” Momota said in remarks published on the Lin Dan Cup’s official website.
Career Interrupted by a 2020 Crash
Momota’s career trajectory changed significantly on Jan. 13, 2020. Hours after winning the Malaysia Masters, a van crash on the way to Kuala Lumpur International Airport left him with severe eye socket fractures that caused double vision. The injuries eventually led him to announce his retirement from international competition at age 30.
Before the accident, Momota captured 14 of his 16 World Tour titles and held the record for the most international titles won in a calendar year by a men’s singles player, having secured 11 in 2019. The single-season record was equaled by South Korea’s An Se Young last year.
Future Plans Beyond the Invitational Win
While his appearance and victory in Wuhan prompted speculation regarding a potential return to the World Tour, Momota stated he has no plans for a full-time comeback. He has not entered any BWF tournaments, and uncertainty remains regarding whether he would consider competing under the proposed 15-point scoring system.
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