New Delhi : Two-time world champion Kento Momota of Japan announced his retirement from international badminton on Thursday, marking the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in Chengdu, China as his final tournament on the international circuit.
Momota became the first Japanese man to win the world championship in 2018 in China and the following year he successfully defended his crown in Switzerland.
“I’ve realized I can no longer get back to the point where I’m aiming to be No. 1 in the world again,” Momota said in a press conference in Tokyo as quoted by Japanese news agency Kyodo News.
“I had a very fulfilling career playing for the national team. Now I want to be involved in helping all kinds of people find enjoyment in sports.”
In 2019, Momota won a record 11 titles on the BWF Tour and was named the top men’s player. However, in January of the following year, after winning the Malaysia Masters title he met with a tragic highway accident in Kuala Lumpur from which he miraculously survived.
However, the 29-year-old plans to continue to play domestically in the national championships and the professional League.