Former World Badminton Champion Kento Momota Announces Retirement from National Team at Age 29

Kento Momota, a former world champion in badminton representing Japan, has announced his retirement from playing for the national team at the age of 29. He made this announcement at a press conference in Tokyo, stating that he would represent Japan for the last time at the Thomas Cup international team competition in Chengdu, China later this month.

Momotas career was marked by many achievements, including being the first Japanese man to win the world championship in 2018 and successfully defending his title in 2019. However, recent injuries have dashed his hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics, leading him to make this difficult decision. He expressed his realization that he could no longer reach the pinnacle of the sport and become world No.1 again.

Looking back on his fulfilling career playing for the national team, Momota expressed a desire to help others find enjoyment in sports going forward. At one time, Momota was a dominant force in badminton, winning a record 11 singles titles in 2019 alone. However, his career was not without controversy and tragedy. In 2016 he was suspended for gambling at illegal casinos which led him missing out on competing for a medal at the Rio Olympics. Additionally, an accident early 2020 claimed the life of driver while he was traveling in van causing significant setback in his career.

Despite these challenges, Momota managed to win another title in November 2021 after a year-long drought following accident. His appearance at Tokyo Olympics was disappointing as he made an early exit during group stages but moving forward he plans to continue playing domestically in national championships and professional S/J League as he transitions into next phase of his career.