PETALING JAYA: Former world No. 1 Kento Momota has revealed that his lingering desire to compete on court was the main reason he accepted an invitation to play in the King’s Cup in Shenzhen.
The invitational tournament, organised by two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan, has attracted several top names and is now in its second edition.
Momota, who retired from professional badminton last year, was among the headline acts alongside Alex Lanier, Anders Antonsen, Jonatan Christie, Jason Teh, Victor Lai, Shi Yuqi and China’s rising talent Liu Yang Ming Yu.
However, the Japanese legend’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals after he fell to Shi Yuqi 19-21, 15-21 on Friday (Dec 26).
Despite the early exit, the match was an entertaining contest and Momota showed that he still possessed flashes of his trademark touch and court craft.
“I have no intention of returning to the Japanese national team, but I hope to play in a way that makes people watching think that I still have a lot more to offer.
“If that can lead to invitations to compete in overseas open tournaments, I would be very happy," said Momota.
For Momota, he understands that he can no longer compete regularly on the World Tour calendar, but the longing to step onto the court can still be fulfilled through invitational tournaments such as these.
The 30-year-old believes it is crucial for him, as he gradually ventures into coaching, to practise what he preaches so that his knowledge can be passed on more effectively to his players in the future.
“I think it is very important to practise every day. Even if I am in a teaching role, I want to teach through practical skills rather than just words.
“To do that, I am always thinking not only about the technical aspects but also about building a strong body that can move well.
“If you do not feel the importance of every single shot, it is difficult to convey that to others. I believe it is essential to improve the quality of my own playing and teaching, and in that sense, I will probably continue for as long as my body allows, unless I suffer a serious injury," he added.
For the record, the Japanese player was previously offered a spot by Lin Dan to compete in the Lin Dan Cup in July, but Momota was forced to pull out at the last minute due to illness.
