Kento Momota won the All-Japan badminton championships yesterday to complete the first step of his comeback, nearly a year after the world's top-ranked player suffered serious injuries in a car crash.
Momota came from behind to beat world No 11 Kanta Tsuneyama 18-21, 21-12, 21-17 in Tokyo, marking a successful return from the accident that left him fearing his career might be over after fracturing an eye socket.
After clinching his third national title in a row, Momota immediately turned his thoughts towards making his international comeback at next month's Thailand Open.
"I had the initiative in the first game but then I started to lose my cool once I had the lead," said Momota. "I think that's because I'm still not used to playing matches.
"In the second and third games, I wanted to put all my feeling into it regardless of technique or tactics, and I think I willed myself to the win."
Momota can't wait for the Thailand Open to start on January 12 as it will give him "a chance to play against players from overseas. I want to go there and show what I can do."
The 26-year-old was badly hurt in January when the vehicle taking him to the airport after he won the Malaysia Masters crashed, killing the driver.
He admitted to feeling nervous as he returned to competition in Tokyo, and he was pushed to the limit by Tsuneyama, who took him to 16-16 in the final game only to crumble with victory in sight.
"I was too cautious," said Momota, who also had to come from a game down in the quarter-finals. "I hadn't played for a long time so I was very anxious going into each match. But I think my game will start to return now that I've won this title."
Momota won a record-breaking 11 titles last year, and he is confident of adding more after tasting success again. "I want to keep doing more. If I can, I want to get back to training tomorrow."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Kento Momota won a third All-Japan title in a row. AFP
