A Champion’s Last Tango

A Champion’s Last Tango

It was a decade ago, during the Thomas Cup 2014, that Kento Momota furnished the early sample of his genius that would make the world in awe of him in coming years.

Playing second singles for Japan behind Kenichi Tago, Momota would show the same immunity to pressure that was to define him in his later career.

Whether it was the final Group B tie against strong contenders Denmark – which he swung Japan’s way beating Viktor Axelsen – or the pressure-cooker semifinals and finals, Momota was unflappable. An 85-minute marathon against Du Peng Yu in the semifinals saw Japan into the final for the first time; two days later he would be part of a great Thomas Cup final.

With the tie level at one match apiece against Malaysia, Momota put Japan ahead, taking apart Chong Wei Feng in the shortest match of the final.

Japan would make history a few hours later, with Takuma Ueda holding off Liew Daren in a fraught affair. Japan’s arrival as a world power coincided with Momota’s rising fortunes, and for much of the decade he was the standout star in a team studded with world-class players.

The first major blow to his career – a ban for gambling at a casino – affected the defending champions at the next edition, with Japan falling in the quarterfinals. Then, on his return for the 2018 edition, the team perked up once again. Momota led the way, winning all his six matches, including against Chen Long in the final. China did regain the Thomas Cup, but Momota’s star shone bright ever since he returned from the ban.

That period of brilliance – which saw him on the road to greatness, with 11 titles in 2019 – was to come to a premature end with the car accident in early 2020.

Yet, despite the physical and mental trauma that could have finished off many a career, Momota was able to revive glimpses of his pristine self during the post-Olympics period, when he led Japan to the semifinals of the Thomas Cup 2020 in Aarhus. A standout victory in this campaign was over familiar foe Lee Zii Jia; the 80-minute match going the Japanese’s way at 23-21 in the decider. In the semifinals against China he gave Japan the lead beating Shi Yu Qi, but China’s overall firepower proved too much for Japan.

Another semifinal finish followed in 2022, with Momota unable to take Japan past Indonesia.

And so, as he returns to a tournament of enormous personal significance, can Momota rewind the clock for a final hurrah? Unlike his previous campaigns, Momota will be playing third singles – which could benefit Japan, for it is a position which requires nerve and experience, qualities that he has in abundant measure.

Momota has shown in his post-accident period that he is capable of beating many of the world’s best, even if he cannot do it with the consistency that he had earlier. But if he is called into play in a critical tie, there’s no reason why he cannot author another epic for Japan.

Momota at the Thomas Cup

2014: Champion. Played 5 Won 5
2016: DNP
2018: Runner-Up. Played: 6 Won: 6
2020: Semifinalist. Played: 3 Won: 2
2022: Semifinalist. Played: 4 Won: 2