Denpasar (Indonesia): Kento Momota world champion defeated Anders Antonsen in the final of the Indonesian Masters on Sunday, his first victory in an international tournament since he was not injured in a car accident last year.
Momota hit the Third Seed of Denmark 21-17, 21-11 at the resort of Bali Island, where the tournament was detained as the first of the three back-to-back competitions that peaked in the final of the world tour that ended the season.
Finally close in the first half, but Japanese Ace managed to build a strong defense because Antonsen repeatedly made unpartified mistakes.
The best badminton player in the world, with a record 11 titles in 2019, Momota was almost forced to retire after a car accident in January last year left him with a career threatening injury.
He broke his eyes in the accident, who killed the driver of the car he entered.
When he returned to the Olympic debut in Tokyo this year, he crashed into the group stage, blaming his own “weakness”.
Momota has a relatively easy lottery in Bali, after the Olympic Gold Medalist Viktor Axelsen winner was eliminated in the round of 16 on Thursday.
And China did not send any player to the Bali tournament, which means the old Olympic silver medalist.
Apart from Momota’s victory, the Japanese team pocketed two other trophies in Sunday’s final.
In the men’s doubles, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi surprised favorites – and the top ranking duo – Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, 21-11, 17-21, 21-19.
“We are happy to have defeated world number one player,” Hockey said.
“It makes us confident.” Kobayashi added: “We lost to them 10 times but we learned from us and their mistakes, and practiced lessons in today’s match.” Meanwhile, the couple Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida beat the South Korea pair unseeded Jeong Eun and Kim Hye Jeong 21-9, 21-11.
The third-ranked female player Yamaguchi also made the final, but lost to seeded South Korea, Sanyoung 21-17, 21-19.
In a mixed double, Dechapol Puavarukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Taerattanachai crashed into Tang Chun-Man and Tse Ying-suet 21-11, 21-12.
Furthermore, in Bali, Indonesia is open, which takes place from 23 to 28 November Bali, which has been greatly affected by visitors’ losses during a pandemic.
The tournament is held without fans and in covid-second bubbles because of Coronavirus.
Some disappointed fans at Badminton-Mad Indonesia have sent gifts such as flowers and dolls to Bio-Secure hotels.
“Usually, I can see them playing in Jakarta but because now it is far away in Bali, I sent them flowers to show my support,” said Fan Deti Mega, who with his friend sent flowers to Axelsen and Duo Gideon-sukamuljo.
“I am happy because my prize reaches them when they post flowers and greeting cards on their social media,” he said, quoted by the Association of Badminton Indonesia.
Badminton Ace Momota claims the first post-accidental international trophy
