TOKYO: Japan’s badminton world number one Kento Momota on Wednesday announced his long-awaited return to competition as he begins his bid for home glory at the Tokyo Olympics nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash.
Momota will compete at the All-Japan national championships in Tokyo later this month before playing in the Thailand Open in January following a difficult year in which he feared his career might be over after fracturing an eye socket in the accident.
“I’m nervous but I’m really looking forward to it,” said Momota, who was badly hurt when the vehicle taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport just hours after he won the Malaysia Masters was involved in an accident that killed his driver.
“I’m really looking forward to playing against the best international players after such a long time.”
Momota admitted his “spirit was almost broken” after undergoing surgery on his eye socket in February, which left him with impaired vision.
But the 26-year-old later declared himself “fully recovered” and refocused his sights on gold at the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Games.
Momota is hoping to recapture the form that saw him win a record-breaking 11 titles last year as he tries to claim a third straight national crown before heading to Bangkok for the resumption of the badminton world tour.
“I haven’t played matches recently so it’s difficult to know what’s working and what I need to work on,” said Momota.
“But thanks to my sponsors, I’ve been able to practice each day without stress.”
Three postponed tournaments on the tour will be played back-to-back in Thailand in January, with the finals to be held at the end of that month.
The coronavirus pandemic decimated badminton’s international calendar, with October’s Denmark Open – which Momota did not enter because of fears over the virus – the only tournament since March.
Momota has kept training, however, and even found time to offer his services as a coach on social media, triggering thousands of responses.
“There has been a lot of gloomy news with the coronavirus recently, so I’m really happy that these tournaments are taking place,” he said.
“Sport has the power to make people feel better, so I want to do my best to show my appreciation and help give people a positive outlook.”
Momota is one of Japan’s brightest hopes for a gold medal at the Tokyo Games, which were postponed in March over the pandemic and are now scheduled to start on July 23, 2021.
He missed the 2016 Rio Olympics after being banned for illegal gambling.
Badminton’s world number one Kento Momota returns to competition
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Badminton’s world number one Kento Momota returns to competition
- Japanese player hoping to recapture the form that saw him win a record-breaking 11 titles last year
Trainer Tom Clover targets Gulf success with runners in Saudi Arabia and Qatar this weekend
- Rogue Lightning, which gave Clover with his first major international success at the Dukhan Sprint in Qatar a year ago, lines up at the HH The Amir Sword Festival in Doha
- Tabletalk, which has finished in the top 3 in 8 of 11 career starts and only failed to make the prize money once, takes on Red Sea Turf Handicap at the Saudi Cup
LONDON: Newmarket-based trainer Tom Clover will have two runners in the Gulf on Saturday: Rogue Lightning is set to line up at the HH The Amir Sword Festival in Doha, while Tabletalk will compete on Saudi Cup night in Riyadh.
Rogue Lightning provided Clover with his first major international success when he landed the Dukhan Sprint in Qatar last February, delivering a first victory in the country’s biggest sprint race for the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and his Wathnan Racing operation.
Following that success, the 6-year-old campaigned in the US, where he finished second in a Grade 2 contest at Keeneland. He has run only twice since returning to the UK, contesting the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket before a Listed all-weather appearance in November after a break.
During a conversation with Great British Racing International, Clover said of Rogue Lightning: “He is a lovely horse and he looks to be in good shape going back there (to Doha). We had a right-handed racecourse gallop to get him used to going around a bend and he seemed to enjoy that, so I am pleased with his preparation.
“When he went there last February, he improved his condition in the week leading up to the race, so we hope that will be the case again. He likes the warm weather, so some sun could get him into even better condition.
“It was fantastic to win the Dukhan Sprint last year, and to do it for the emir at home, with him in attendance, made it even more special. The experience was great and it was a day we will always remember.”
Clover will also be represented on the Saudi Cup undercard on Saturday, where the consistent Tabletalk will contest the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap for Emirati owner Abdulla Al-Mansoori.
The five-year-old has finished in the top three in eight of his 11 career starts, and only failed to make the prize money once, in the 2024 Derby at Epsom Downs.
“Tabletalk was placed on nearly all of his starts last year,” Clover told Great British Racing International. “He ran second in two very good races early in the season, at Newbury in Group 3 company. At Royal Ascot, he was not beaten far despite a difficult draw. We were expecting a bit more in his last two runs but he still performed well to finish in the placings.
“The way he won the Melrose Handicap at the York Ebor Festival in 2024 makes me confident he can do well over the 1 mile, 7 furlongs in the Red Sea Turf Handicap. It is still a question mark, as he has not raced over that distance before, but I feel it should work in his favor.
“He was gelded towards the end of last year, which I think will help him when traveling and allow us to target major international meetings. The Saudi Cup is a great spectacle to be part of during the winter here in Britain, and the Red Sea Turf is a very valuable handicap.”
Clover also outlined his hopes for the season and highlighted the importance of his owners.
“We have a great bunch of horses at Kremlin House Stables and we are really looking forward to this year,” he said.
“I am grateful to have high-profile international owners like Wathnan Racing and Al-Mansoori who are keen to travel their horses, and I hope I can deliver some great results for them on the racecourse.”
