Korea Masters: Momota Breaks Dry Spell
Former No.1 Kento Momota tasted title success after nearly two years, taking the Korea Masters 2023 with a straight-games defeat of compatriot Koki Watanabe.
· BWF STAFF
The two-time world champion, who has slid to No.52 on the back of a lacklustre season, hasn’t topped the podium since winning the Indonesia Masters in November 2021. Since then, he has been in only one other final – the Malaysia Open in July 2022. This year he has crashed out in the first round of eight events.
Momota was mostly in control against Watanabe, and he looked sharp except at the very end, when he nearly lost his way. At 17-5 in the second, it looked headed for a rout, but Momota suffered a shaky spell, losing a series of points to keep Watanabe in the contest. Yet, his opponent had made his charge too late, and Momota closed it out before it got any trickier, 21-16 21-15.
Meanwhile, world champions Seo Seung Jae/Chae Yu Jung led the way for the hosts as Korea finished with three titles. Seo/Chae enjoyed a fairly comfortable win over French Open champions Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin, 21-14 21-15 in 33 minutes.