Badminton superstar Kento Momota has announced his retirement from the Japanese national team at the age of 29. This news comes after a series of recent injuries that dashed his hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a press conference in Tokyo, Momota stated that he would represent Japan for the last time at the Thomas Cup international team competition in Chengdu, China later this month.
Momotta made history as the first Japanese man to win the world championship in 2018 and successfully defended his title the following year. However, his career was not without controversy and tragedy. He was suspended for gambling at illegal casinos in Japan, which led to him missing the chance to compete 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, causing a significant setback in his career.
Despite these challenges, Momota managed to win another title in November 2021 after a year-long drought following the accident. His appearance at the Tokyo Olympics was disappointing, as he made an early exit in the group stages. Moving forward, Momota plans to continue playing domestically in the national championships and the professional S/J League as he transitions to the next phase of his career.
At his peak, Momota was a dominant force in badminton and won a record 11 singles titles in just one season – 2019. However, it is clear that his injuries have taken their toll on him and he no longer has dreams of reaching world No. 1 again or competing on an international stage once more. Instead, he wants to focus on helping others find enjoyment in sports going forward.
Momotas decision to retire from international competition is likely due to several factors including age and physical limitations as well as disappointment over recent results on international stage.
Overall Kento Motoma’s career has been nothing short of remarkable with multiple World Titles under his belt but also controversies like suspension and car accidents that slowed down his progress.
As he hangs up his national team jersey for good, we can only hope that Motota finds peace and contentment as he embarks on this new chapter of his life while continuing to inspire future generations with