Taking part in 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 provide his greatest, the world #1 not solely made an early exit however has probably bottled what may have been his greatest likelihood of successful an Olympic gold medal.
By Bikash Mohapatra. Pictures: 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 benefit consideration.
However by topping Group A, the Korean assured himself a bye by means of 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 event 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 instances however, the 26-year-old was absolutely the favorite to win the title. Apart from 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. Nonetheless, 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. In reality Momota’s document 11 titles in 2019 earned him a spot within the prestigious Guinness E-book of World Information. 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 a couple of. Apart from, the Tokyo Video games had been additionally postponed for 12 months, giving Momota ample time to not simply recuperate 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 may be cancelled, I believed so much about how I may not have the ability to play on the Olympics,” Momota instructed reporters, including, “However lots of people have labored onerous to place the competitors on, and I’ve simply tried to dam out the noise and put all the things 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 lower brief within the quarter-finals by Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia, the eventual champion. The three matches he performed in Area Birmingham can be the one ones Momota performed this 12 months, forward of the Tokyo Video games. But, his all-round sport, domination lately 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 event.
The lads’s singles attract Tokyo was expectedly straightforward for the event’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 downside in his opening match, in opposition to American Timothy Lam. There was albeit a surprising end result mendacity within the wait.
Heo Kwang Hee, ranked #38 on the earth, can also be making his Olympic debut. There have been completely zero expectations from him, and consequently no stress. He was the proverbial underdog and had nothing to lose – Momota had gained all their three earlier matches. It’s a mix of all these components 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 event.
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 help from everybody and lots of people anticipated me to win, however I didn’t make it tonight. I’m very sorry for them,” Momota instructed reporters following his exit.
“Within the first sport I felt OK. However after the opponent reached 11, I couldn’t recuperate myself and couldn’t inspire myself after that,” the world #1 continued, including, “My situation was superb.
“However I used to be simply not ok tonight.”
To say the 26-year-old was left upset on the finish shall be an understatement. Momota’s exit meant there have been no agency favourites thereafter. It was an open subject, 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 instances over and ultimately, a double disappointment.
Gold medals from the Olympics – and likewise the Asian Video games – are clearly the one main issues lacking from the Japanese participant’s in any other case spectacular resume. The style by 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 can 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 shall be nearly 30 – an older age for a badminton participant. His expertise however, the health ranges gained’t be the identical. To not overlook the present opposition can have added to their oeuvre in three years time, and there may very well be a more recent lot of opponents to cope with as nicely.
Apart from, 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 possibilities, 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 sensible likelihood to pocket that elusive yellow metallic, merely put it is going to be troublesome.
Reality is a bitter tablet, nevertheless it needs to be swallowed nonetheless. The reality is Momota most definitely succumbed to the stress of expectations, and has in all probability bottled what may have been his greatest likelihood. 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 way in which you normally do whenever you’re enjoying on this stage (Olympics),” Momota instructed reporters. “A number 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 admire 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.
