Itzhak Perlman Headlines Great Neck Park District’s Summer Concert Series
8 hours ago
Japan Kento Momota is a two-time World Champion and former World No. 1 badminton player known for his explosive style, who now inspires others with his journey through the sport's highest levels.
Herbalife Nutrition became the official nutrition sponsor of World's #1 Men's Badminton Player, Kento Momota.
Kento Momota has partnered with Yonex for his equipment throughout his career, often collaborating on racket designs such as the ASTROX 99, which aimed to provide both power and defensive capabilities. Yonex is also a long-standing official sponsor of the China national badminton team and has held partnerships with BWF tournaments, including the Yonex Thailand Open.
Kento Momota was born on September 1, 1994, in Mino, Kagawa, Japan. Influenced by his older sister, Momota began playing badminton at age seven. His parents supported his ambition by creating a homemade practice court. In 2007, he won the All Japan Elementary School Badminton Championship, prompting a move to Tomioka Daiichi Junior High School, known for its badminton program. He continued his success there, winning the National Junior High School Badminton Tournament in August 2009 and becoming the first junior high student to reach the semifinals of the All Japan Junior Championships. He later attended Tomioka High School, training under Indonesian coach Imam Tohari. In 2012, he achieved gold medals at both the Asian and World Junior Championships, making history as the first Japanese male to win the world junior title. Upon graduating in 2013, with a world ranking of No. 50, Momota turned professional, joining the NTT East badminton team.
Throughout his professional career, Momota achieved significant milestones. In 2015, he became the first Japanese player to win the Singapore Open and a Superseries title in men’s singles, also becoming the youngest champion in that category. He earned a bronze medal at the 2015 BWF World Championships and won the 2015 BWF World Superseries Finals. After returning to the national team in late 2017 following a suspension, Momota secured the 2018 Asian Championships and his first World Championships title. On September 27, 2018, he became the first Japanese men’s singles player to reach World No. 1 in the BWF World rankings, maintaining this position for 121 weeks and earning the BWF’s Best Male Player of the Year award in 2019. The 2019 season was particularly successful, with Momota winning a record 11 titles, including his second World and Asian Championships titles, and the All England Open, becoming the first Japanese man to do so.
His career faced challenges following a serious traffic accident in January 2020 after winning the Malaysia Masters, which resulted in injuries and a period of recovery. He returned to competition but struggled to consistently reach his previous form. Despite these setbacks and challenges, Momota continued to compete, winning the Indonesia Masters in 2021 and the Korea Masters in 2023. In April 2024, at the age of 29, Momota announced his retirement from the Japanese national team, with the 2024 Thomas Cup marked as his final international tournament. His career is remembered for his unique, explosive playing style and his numerous achievements that cemented his legacy as one of badminton’s greats.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
