Top seed Momota suffers shock early exit from Asia Championships
MANILA (AFP) - Two-time world champion Kento Momota suffered a shock first-round defeat at the Badminton Asia Championships on Wednesday (April 27) as his poor run of form hit a new low.
Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, ranked 52nd in the world, lost the first game but stormed back to stun the Japanese top seed 17-21, 21-17, 21-7 in just over an hour at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Manila.
In the women's singles, top seed and Momota's fellow Japanese Akane Yamaguchi had no such trouble with a 21-15, 21-9 demolition of India's Aakarshi Kashyap in just 26 minutes.
The 27-year-old Momota, a former world No. 1 but now ranked second behind Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, said: "I couldn't cope with the wind and heat at the venue today.
"It wasn't about my opponent, I think my performance wasn't good at all.
"I hope to find out what I did wrong and what I need to reflect on so that I can prepare for next time."
Momota has failed to rediscover his scintillating top form after being badly injured in a career-threatening car crash in January 2020 in Malaysia.
His only title since came at the Indonesia Masters last November and soon after he pulled out of December's World Championships with a back injury.
Singapore's Loh Kean Yew won the title in Huelva, Spain by beating India's Srikanth Kidambi 21-15, 22-20 despite an ankle injury.
Momota lost his opening match at the German Open last month and failed to get past the quarter-finals at the prestigious All England Championships.
The Japanese ace said that his "spirit was almost broken" by the accident, which killed his driver on the way to Kuala Lumpur airport just hours after winning the Malaysia Masters.
Momota suffered double vision and needed surgery on an orbital bone near his eye, leaving him fearing his career might be over.
He returned to the circuit at the end of 2020 and had been favourite for Olympic gold on home soil in Tokyo last year, but was eliminated early.
Loh yesterday defeated Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-16, 15-21, 21-17 in just under an hour. He had also beaten the Thai in the round of 16 at the world championships.
In the women's singles, compatriot Jaslyn Hooi beat South Korean Seo Jin-lee 21-18, 21-10 in 36 minutes, while Yeo Jia Min plays Malvika Bansod later.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now