Source: REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO
[Saba Sports News] The ongoing 2023 Japan
Badminton Masters, taking place in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, recently reached
the quarterfinal stage. Kento Momota, one of the Japanese home players, faced
his long-standing rival Shi Yuqi. However, Momota was defeated by Shi Yuqi with
a score of 2-0, ending his journey in the tournament. In a post-match
interview, Momota expressed his intention to learn from the defeat. This led
many fans and netizens to lament, saying, “Although Kento Momota recently
won the Korea Badminton Masters, ending his two-year championship drought, he
still cannot break the curse when facing his arch-rival.” Momota’s current
form is no longer comparable to Shi Yuqi’s, as he was clearly at a disadvantage
throughout the match. It’s understandable that Momota expressed his intention
to learn from the defeat.