Enjoying a match in entrance of what ought to have been a passionate residence crowd, and carrying the burden of expectations on his shoulders, Japanese star Kento Momota let the event get the higher of him and that in failing to supply his greatest, the world #1 not solely made an early exit however has presumably bottled what may have been his greatest probability of successful an Olympic gold medal.
By Bikash Mohapatra. Images: Badmintonphoto
The lads’s singles competitors in badminton on the Tokyo Olympics ensured each a shock and a shock. To witness Heo Kwang-hee transfer straight from the group stage to the quarter-finals was a shock. The 25-year-old had hitherto achieved little of significance to advantage consideration.
However by topping Group A, the Korean assured himself a bye by the Spherical of 16, and due to this fact a direct spot within the final eight. And to safe prime spot in his group, Heo shocked the pre-tournament favorite. He beat Kento Momota. Imagine it or faint!
Coming into the match there have been few who had doubts that Momota would assure the host nation a gold medal. The actual fact he had performed little in current occasions however, the 26-year-old was absolutely the favorite to win the title. Moreover the truth that Japan is internet hosting the Video games, there was additionally an emotional angle concerned.
Momota was additionally among the many favourites main as much as the Rio Olympics in 2016. Nevertheless, the truth that he frequented an unlawful on line casino in Tokyo was sufficient to earn him a 12-month suspension, and expulsion from Japanese contingent to Brazil. As an alternative of being a frontrunner of the group the participant was left to remorse “betraying everybody’s expectations”.
To his credit score the left-hander got here again nicely from the ignominious incident, having a superlative season in 2018 and a spectacular one the next 12 months – shedding simply six of the 73 matches he performed that 12 months. Actually Momota’s file 11 titles in 2019 earned him a spot within the prestigious Guinness E-book of World Data. The 12 months 2020 started with the Malaysian Masters title earlier than a freak accident, en path to the Kuala Lumpur airport, left him with a damaged nostril and plenty of scars – each bodily and psychological. The Japanese participant even had doubts if he would play once more.
With a pandemic inflicting havoc the world over post-March 2020 the Badminton World Federation (BWF) was pressured to cancel most tournaments, and reschedule just a few. Moreover, the Tokyo Video games had been additionally postponed for 12 months, giving Momota ample time to not simply get well bodily but in addition to regain his psychological composure, one thing the participant himself admitted.
“When the Video games had been postponed by a 12 months after which it was on the information that they could be cancelled, I believed rather a lot about how I may not have the ability to play on the Olympics,” Momota informed reporters, including, “However lots of people have labored arduous to place the competitors on, and I’ve simply tried to dam out the noise and put every part into the issues I can management.”
Whereas the rescheduled BWF competitions for 2020 resumed in a bio-bubble in Bangkok this January there was once more a notable absentee. Forward of his departure to the Thai capital Momota examined constructive for COVID-19, and that put paid to his prospects of returning to competitors on the back-to-back Tremendous 1000 tournaments, adopted by the BWF World Tour Finals.
When Momota did return to court docket, on the All England Championships in March, his comeback was reduce brief within the quarter-finals by Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia, the eventual champion. The three matches he performed in Enviornment Birmingham could be the one ones Momota performed this 12 months, forward of the Tokyo Video games. But, his all-round recreation, domination in recent times and the stranglehold he has over his main opponents meant the 26-year-old was the agency favorite for the gold medal. The participant himself oozed confidence, saying his bodily health has improved “little by little” and that he “feels actually good” going into the match.
The lads’s singles attract Tokyo was expectedly straightforward for the match’s prime seed. The house favorite simply needed to win two straightforward group matches, and prime his group, to make sure he skipped the Spherical of 16 altogether and safe a direct place within the quarter-final. Momota had little drawback in his opening match, in opposition to American Timothy Lam. There was albeit a surprising outcome mendacity within the wait.
Heo Kwang Hee, ranked #38 on this planet, can also be making his Olympic debut. There have been completely zero expectations from him, and consequently no strain. He was the proverbial underdog and had nothing to lose – Momota had gained all their three earlier matches. It’s a mixture of all these elements that despatched nerves out of the window and ensured the Korean gave his greatest shot. Within the closing evaluation it was sufficient to trigger the shock of the match.
Momota, the house favorite, had flattered to deceive. He had belied his rating, and his standing. He had didn’t get out of the group phases. He had been left to rue one other Olympic disappointment.
“I had a lot assist from everybody and lots of people anticipated me to win, however I didn’t make it tonight. I’m very sorry for them,” Momota informed reporters following his exit.
“Within the first recreation I felt OK. However after the opponent reached 11, I couldn’t get well myself and couldn’t inspire myself after that,” the world #1 continued, including, “My situation was advantageous.
“However I used to be simply not ok tonight.”
To say the 26-year-old was left upset on the finish will likely be an understatement. Momota’s exit meant there have been no agency favourites thereafter. It was an open discipline, with the one taking probably the most benefit additionally guaranteeing him of the gold medal.
For Momota suffice to say it is a chance misplaced. Profitable in entrance of his residence followers would have been one thing. As issues stand it has been two Olympics, the favorite’s standing two occasions over and finally, a double disappointment.
Gold medals from the Olympics – and in addition the Asian Video games – are clearly the one main issues lacking from the Japanese participant’s in any other case spectacular resume. The style during which he has dominated proceedings when match, and never embroiled in some controversy, is one thing few gamers can boast of. A lot in order that for a participant of his stature something apart from the gold medal could be thought of as a serious disappointment. That mentioned, the Mino-born star would want luck to get him a medal of any color now.
By the point the subsequent Olympics occur in Paris, Momota will likely be virtually 30 – an older age for a badminton participant. His expertise however, the health ranges gained’t be the identical. To not overlook the prevailing opposition may have added to their oeuvre in three years time, and there might be a more recent lot of opponents to cope with as nicely.
Moreover, having a number of cracks on the Olympics, with intent to win gold, ain’t straightforward. Solely two gamers, Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei, have so far managed to mount a number of challenges to win the Olympic gold medal. Whereas the Chinese language legend grasped two of his probabilities, his rival from Malaysia needed to cope with three successive ‘closing’ disappointments. Whereas it’s preposterous to recommend that Momota gained’t have one other practical probability to pocket that elusive yellow metallic, merely put it is going to be troublesome.
Reality is a bitter capsule, nevertheless it needs to be swallowed nonetheless. The reality is Momota most definitely succumbed to the strain of expectations, and has most likely bottled what may have been his greatest probability. For as soon as, the once-in-a-generation participant obtained overwhelmed and let the event get the higher of him, one thing he was trustworthy sufficient to confess later.
“It’s actually troublesome to go about issues the best way you often do whenever you’re taking part in on this stage (Olympics),” Momota informed reporters. “A whole lot of issues occurred, however due to the efforts of many individuals I obtained to really feel the strain and expertise what it’s prefer to play at an Olympics. I actually respect that.”
If the Japanese star has one other shot at redemption and handle to win an Olympic gold medal or any medal for that matter stays to be seen.
