Gabby Adcock
Gabby Adcock is the “First Lady” of modern British badminton, a player whose tactical aggression at the net redefined England’s
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Kento Momota
Kento Momota was once the most dominant player in men’s singles, known for his elite defence, tactical intelligence, and incredible consistency. A two-time World Champion and former World No. 1, he redefined modern badminton with his patient play style, deceptive shots, and stamina. Despite a tragic accident in 2020 that affected his career, Momota remains one of Japan’s greatest badminton players of all time.
Basic Information
Full Name: Kento Momota (桃田 賢斗)
Date of Birth: 1 September 1994
Nationality: Japan 🇯🇵
Height: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Handedness: Left-handed
Playing Style: Defensive, Deceptive, Tactical
Current Ranking: Retired (6 May 2024)
Status: Retired
Career Highlights & Achievements
🏆 BWF World Championships:
🥇 2018 Nanjing – Gold Medal (Men’s Singles)
🥇 2019 Basel – Gold Medal (Men’s Singles)
🥉 2015 Jakarta – Bronze Medal (Men’s Singles)
🏆 All England Open:
🥇 2019 – Champion
🏆 BWF World Tour Titles:
🥇 11 Titles in 2019 (Record for Most in a Year)
🏆 Asian Championships:
🥇 2018 Wuhan – Champion
🥇 2019 Wuhan – Champion
🏆 Thomas Cup:
🥇 2014 – Champion with Japan
🥈 2018
🥉 2020, 2022
🏆 Sudirman Cup:
🥈 2015, 2019, 2021
Playing Style & Strengths
Momota’s game revolves around defense, deception, and precision. At his peak, he could control opponents with pinpoint shot placement and wait for them to make mistakes.
- World-Class Defense: Frustrated opponents with his patience and retrieval ability.
- Deceptive Shotmaking: Smooth racket skills that disguised shots well.
- Mental Toughness: Rarely made unforced errors and remained calm under pressure.
- Match Control: Slowed down rallies and dictated the pace.
Rivalries & Key Matches
🔹 Momota vs. Axelsen – A battle of defence vs. attack.
🔹 Momota vs. Lee Chong Wei – The transition between two generations.
🔹 Momota vs. Shi Yuqi – Tactical duels between top Asian players.
Notable Matches
🏸 2018 World Championship Final vs. Shi Yuqi – Momota wins Japan’s first men’s singles world title.
🏸 2019 All England Final vs. Viktor Axelsen – A masterclass in control and patience.
🏸 2019 World Championship Final vs. Anders Antonsen – Near-flawless performance.
Personal Life & Background
Momota became Japan’s first-ever men’s singles World Champion in 2018. His career was tragically affected by a car accident in 2020, which led to eye surgery and a decline in his dominance. Despite this, he remains one of the greatest badminton players in history.
Trivia & Fun Facts
⭐ First Japanese men’s singles World Champion.
⭐ Won 11 BWF World Tour titles in 2019 (a record).
⭐ Had an 81–6 win-loss record in 2019.
⭐ His defence and shot quality were compared to Lin Dan’s peak.
⭐ Recovered from a serious car accident but struggled to regain top form.
Latest News & Updates
- Kento Momota announced his retirement from international badminton on 18 April 2024, citing that he had never been the same since the serious car crash in January 2020.
- His last duty for the Japanese national team was the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in Chengdu, China, held from 27 April to 5 May 2024.
- He intends to continue playing domestically and stay involved in the game by working with juniors and at a grassroots level.
FAQs
- What was Momota’s highest world ranking?
- World No. 1 in Men’s Singles (2018-2020).
- How many World Championships has Momota won?
- Two (2018, 2019).
- What happened to Momota in 2020?
- He was involved in a serious car accident that affected his vision and performance.
- When did Kento Momota retire from international badminton?
- He retired on 6 May 2024.
