On This Day: Japan Finally Has an All England Men’s Singles Champ
It was a 56-year wait. Many tried and failed. Two went close but fell at the final hurdle.
· PREM KUMAR
In 2019, the ‘English wall’ was finally brought down. And it had to be at the hands of the all-conquering Kento Momota.
The world’s undisputed top men’s singles star accomplished what many of his countrymen could not – become the All England Open winner.
It did not arrive easy as Denmark’s 2017 world champion Viktor Axelsen refused to throw in the towel after giving the first game away but Momota’s sheer will to succeed carried him through despite being stretched to three games. He won the final at Arena Birmingham 21-11 15-21 21-15.