TOKYO: Japan‘s badminton world primary Kento Momota shrugged off nerves to make a profitable return to competitors in Tokyo on Wednesday, almost a 12 months after struggling severe accidents in a automotive crash.
Momota beat Koshiro Moriguchi 21-12, 21-14 within the first spherical of the All-Japan championships, marking his return from the accident that left him fearing his profession is likely to be over after fracturing a watch socket.
Momota shall be hoping his comeback leads him all the best way to Olympic gold at subsequent 12 months’s coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Video games, however the left-hander was pleased simply to be again on the courtroom after dispatching his opponent in 36 minutes on Wednesday.
“I had that specific feeling that you simply get earlier than a match, the type the place you simply cannot sit nonetheless, and it has been some time since I felt that,” stated Momota, who was badly harm when the automobile taking him to the airport in January after he received the Malaysia Masters crashed, killing the driving force.
“I went out onto the courtroom and it actually felt like I used to be again. I loved it.”
Momota started the match with little fuss as he received the primary 5 factors, however then went on to misjudge a number of baseline photographs from his opponent in an error-strewn opening recreation.
The 26-year-old settled into his rhythm extra within the second recreation, and closed the match out with a convincing smash to ebook his place within the subsequent spherical.
“I missed lots of photographs due to nerves,” he acknowledged.
“My motion and feeling for the shuttle weren’t unhealthy, however I need to minimize down on the errors in my subsequent match.
“I managed to hurry up the play and land just a few smashes, however there have been lots of occasions the place I used to be too sluggish with my returns. I must suppose extra about how I react to every shot and blend issues up a little bit.”
Momota is aiming to win a 3rd straight nationwide title this week in Tokyo, earlier than heading to Thailand in January for the resumption of the badminton world tour.
He’s hoping to recapture the shape that noticed him win a record-breaking 11 titles final 12 months, and believes he’ll start to hit his stride now that he has cleared the primary hurdle.
“I used to be nervous as a result of it was the primary match of the All-Japan championships, and it was additionally my first match in a very long time,” stated Momota.
“There have been lots of issues that made me really feel uncomfortable, however regardless of all that I used to be in a position to loosen up and play my recreation. I am proud of that.”
Momota beat Koshiro Moriguchi 21-12, 21-14 within the first spherical of the All-Japan championships, marking his return from the accident that left him fearing his profession is likely to be over after fracturing a watch socket.
Momota shall be hoping his comeback leads him all the best way to Olympic gold at subsequent 12 months’s coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Video games, however the left-hander was pleased simply to be again on the courtroom after dispatching his opponent in 36 minutes on Wednesday.
“I had that specific feeling that you simply get earlier than a match, the type the place you simply cannot sit nonetheless, and it has been some time since I felt that,” stated Momota, who was badly harm when the automobile taking him to the airport in January after he received the Malaysia Masters crashed, killing the driving force.
“I went out onto the courtroom and it actually felt like I used to be again. I loved it.”
Momota started the match with little fuss as he received the primary 5 factors, however then went on to misjudge a number of baseline photographs from his opponent in an error-strewn opening recreation.
The 26-year-old settled into his rhythm extra within the second recreation, and closed the match out with a convincing smash to ebook his place within the subsequent spherical.
“I missed lots of photographs due to nerves,” he acknowledged.
“My motion and feeling for the shuttle weren’t unhealthy, however I need to minimize down on the errors in my subsequent match.
“I managed to hurry up the play and land just a few smashes, however there have been lots of occasions the place I used to be too sluggish with my returns. I must suppose extra about how I react to every shot and blend issues up a little bit.”
Momota is aiming to win a 3rd straight nationwide title this week in Tokyo, earlier than heading to Thailand in January for the resumption of the badminton world tour.
He’s hoping to recapture the shape that noticed him win a record-breaking 11 titles final 12 months, and believes he’ll start to hit his stride now that he has cleared the primary hurdle.
“I used to be nervous as a result of it was the primary match of the All-Japan championships, and it was additionally my first match in a very long time,” stated Momota.
“There have been lots of issues that made me really feel uncomfortable, however regardless of all that I used to be in a position to loosen up and play my recreation. I am proud of that.”
