Malaysia Open: ‘Close to Finding My Answer,’ Says Momota
Two and a half years after a momentous event in Malaysia changed the trajectory of Kento Momota’s life and career, the Japanese world No.2 made his way into the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2022 final.
· DEV SUKUMAR
It was relatively smooth passage, 21-11 21-12 over Kunlavut Vitidsarn, which was only the second completed match he has played all week.
Since his car accident following the Malaysia Masters win of January 2020, Momota has been through much tumult, but his comeback has seen him in two other finals, notably at the Indonesia Masters that he won in November 2021. Yet, the Malaysia Open carries a different significance for him, even suggesting that he was well in sight of finding the "answer" that he sought:
“I’m very happy to be back here after all the difficult times I’ve been through,” said Momota. “For tomorrow, I will try my best for the people supporting me when I was suffering. In today’s match, I had no confidence. I just tried not to make mistakes and just tried to put the shuttle back into my opponent’s court. I don’t really have confidence for tomorrow as well, I will just do my best for the people cheering for me."