Below-Par Momota Crashes Out – Indonesia Open: Day 3
Defending champion Kento Momota fell apart in the second round of the BLIBLI Indonesia Open 2019 today to China’s Huang Yu Xiang.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Following four title wins in a row, his defeat here was his earliest since the Malaysia Masters in January, where he crashed out in the first round.
The world No.1 showed none of the authority that he usually displays against opponents ranked way below him. Huang, ranked No.29, had his opponent in trouble early in the match, and although Momota recovered well in the second, took the chances he got to close out the match 21-16 11-21 21-18.
What will hurt Momota is his inability to capitalise on the chances he’d been gifted – a two-point lead from 16-all in the third, both soft errors from Huang.