Olympics In Tokyo, Kento Momota With a Great Shock

Kento Momota, who was the world No. 1 men's badminton player, was eliminated in the group stage after losing to Heo Kwang-hee of South Korea.

In a Shock

On the same day that Japanese tennis sensation Naomi Osaka fell out of the Tokyo Olympics, world number one badminton player Kento Momota lost in the first round. Heo Kwang-hee, an unseeded South Korean, defeated Momota with the score as 21-15, 21-19, eliminating the favorite's hopes for gold after just two games. After being banned for gambling at an illicit casino only months before the 2016 Rio Olympics, Momota was competing in his maiden Olympics. Last year, he was on the edge of having to retire due to career-threatening injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.

In 2019, Momota set a new record by winning 11 championships and losing only six of the 73 matches he played. However, Heo's pursuit for Olympic gold on home soil was short-lived, as he was defeated in just 52 minutes. Early in the game, Momota laughed incredulously as his bullets failed to find their range, but he grew solemn as it became obvious that he was in severe danger. When he hit the net to conclude the game, he sealed his destiny.

Similar upsets for high-profile Japanese athletes, such as tennis player Naomi Osaka and gymnast Kohei Uchimura, have preceded Momota's early retirement.