Momota is beaten by Axelsen in the final in Malaysia


KUALA LUMPUR: Japan’s Kento Momota suffered a heavy loss to world number one Viktor Axelsen at the Malaysia Open last Sunday (July 3) in the latest disappointing performance from the once undisputed king of badminton.

The tournament was Momota’s first time playing in Malaysia since he was involved in a car accident there two years ago that sent his career into freefall.

Axelsen of Denmark, the reigning Olympic champion, outplayed the Japanese star from start to finish to win 21-4, 21-7 in just 34 minutes.

Momota, who was in his first final of the year after a brilliant run, was greeted enthusiastically upon his arrival at the arena in Kuala Lumpur.

But it was a one-sided game, with Axelsen immediately taking control and scoring points with a series of explosive smashes.

The first game was over quickly, and in the second Axelsen kept up the pace to force Momota into numerous unforced errors.

After the match, world number two Momota said that Axelsen’s “level was higher than I expected”.

“I thought I would get better in this tournament but today was a bit too much for me.

“But I will use the experience of playing in this grand final for future tournaments,” added the 27-year-old.

Axelsen said he was surprised he managed to play so well.

“I was surprised by my level today, mainly because I managed to find explosiveness in my game,” he said.

“I was expecting a tough match but it was great to face Momota in another grand final.”

It was Axelsen’s fifth win of the season. The Dane had already won the All England, the European Championship and two titles in Indonesia.

Momota was involved in a car crash that killed his driver on the way to the airport after winning the Malaysia Masters in January 2020. This year’s edition of the Masters takes place next week.

It left Momota with a fractured eye socket and double vision. When he returned after a year’s hiatus, the Japanese star was a shadow of his former self.

He flopped at his home games in Tokyo last year and lost in the first round in four of the five singles tournaments he entered earlier this year.