Nippon Badminton ace Kento Momota, who overcame many difficulties such as a serious injury due to a traffic accident and infection of the new corona, decided to leave the court of the Tokyo Olympics after losing the qualifying league. became.


The reason for this was the lack of practical experience that he had talked about before the tournament.

In January 2020, which was supposed to be the beginning of the Olympic year, Momota was involved in a major traffic accident in Malaysia, where he was on an expedition, and suffered a serious injury that broke his orbital bone under his right eye. ..



The injury to his right eye, which can be said to be the lifeline that supports Momota's precise play, was diagnosed for three months after healed, and he continued to rehabilitate hard.



When I was finally able to play the game, the tournament was canceled or postponed due to the influence of the new Corona.



In addition, I was infected in January, and in the end, only two tournaments were able to participate in the year and seven months after the accident.



Momota, who had come to the Tokyo Olympics in a way that was close to the “bukkake production”, was unusually anxious during the pre-tournament interview.



"It was difficult not to gain practical experience. Even if I didn't even reach the medal, I want to show the attitude of not giving up on the court."

With an uneasy look like never seen before

Momota, who has always been the champion on the court, has always felt the "lack of practical experience".

That became a reality in the game on the 28th.



The opponent is the 38th place in the world and is a player who has never lost.


Momota hit a powerful smash from the start to score the first point, and then made a series of shots at the sideline, showing a smooth start.



However, after leading 5 points, the flow changes.


The opponent turns around and begins to aggressively hit a powerful smash and begins to be pushed by that momentum.



Even so, the surroundings, including the representative coach, did not seem to care so much.


This is because there have been many occasions like this in Momota's games.

Even if the opponent temporarily holds the pace in the game, Momota keeps picking up the opponent's smash with the defense of the iron wall, and in the middle of the scene, he interweaves his favorite "hairpin shot" etc. to regain the flow. I have also seen.


There was always Momota on the court, who was full of confidence.



But this day was different.


He couldn't pick up the opponent's smash and made a series of mistakes even in the "hairpin shot", and was reversed by 10 consecutive runs and lost the first game.


Looking at the court, Momota's expression was more disturbing than I had ever seen.



At that time, the phrase "lack of practical experience" that Momota was talking about came across my head many times.



Momota's facial expression did not change even after entering the second game, and Momota's Tokyo Olympics ended without being able to regain the flow to the end.

"Thank you for all the things that really happened."

After the match, Momota said, "There were so many things, but with the support of many people, I was able to come back to life and play on the court. I wasn't satisfied with the results, but I really want to thank you all, "he said with a regrettable expression that he had never seen before.



Beyond that word, there are many fans and people involved who have believed and supported that "the" absolute champion "Kento Momota will definitely come back."



This is not the end of Momota's competitive life.


The defeat that made me so frustrated is also a valuable actual battle that Momota experienced.


What kind of play will Momota show when he regains his confidence after repeated actual battles one after another?


From the moment you lose, the next start is off.