Source:Visual China Group/Chengdu Economic Daily/VCG
[Saba Sports News] According to Japanese media reports, badminton star Kento Momota confirmed his comeback at the KING CUP, which will be held in Shenzhen, China, after he withdrew from the Japanese national team in 2024. This legendary player, who has won the world championship twice and held the world number one ranking for many years, is returning to the sport.
The KING CUP, founded by Lin Dan, is a men’s badminton tournament that is holding its second edition this year, with a total prize money of $425,000. The champion will take home $170,000, the runner-up will receive $85,000, the third place will get $49,000, and the top eight players are guaranteed a minimum prize of $21,000.
Kento Momota mentioned that the opportunity to participate in this tournament is particularly special. In the summer, Lin Dan had invited him to compete, but at that time he had just undergone back surgery and could not confirm when he would return. By the end of the year, he received another invitation from Lin Dan and expressed his desire to compete against the world’s top players again, so he accepted the invitation.
After a serious car accident in Malaysia in 2020, Momota faced significant challenges in his professional career. In July of this year, he underwent another back surgery. Fortunately, the surgery was a success, with no pain afterwards, and Momota has recovered well. At the Japan Badminton S/J League held in November this year, he achieved his first victory of the season, demonstrating his commitment to being “ready to compete at any time.” Currently, Kento Momota is active in the team as both a player and a coach.