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Momota keen on another clash with ‘big hero’ Lee
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World No. 1 Kento Momota said yesterday he hoped for another showdown against “big hero” Lee Chong Wei, who this month announced plans to return after successful cancer treatment.
Momota has won two and lost two against the Malaysian great, losing their most recent encounter at the Indonesia Open before 36-year-old Lee’s diagnosis, but the Japanese player is itching for one more match.
“I admire him still and he’s a really big hero,” he told reporters after his Hong Kong Open second-round match. “I’d really like to hit a shuttle with him on court again. So I really hope he comes back as soon as possible.”
Lee last week said he could return to training by the end of the year after responding well to nose cancer treatment, adding he had no intention of retiring and has an eye on an elusive gold medal at what would be his fifth summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Momota has said he wants to emulate Lee and China’s Lin Dan — two superstars who have reigned over badminton for well over a decade.
He bested Lin in a bruising first-round clash at Hong Kong Coliseum, sapping his strength for yesterday’s second round against countryman Kanta Tsuneyama in what became a test of mental endurance.
“I was tired and couldn’t increase my speed, so it was a really, really tough match,” Momota said after his narrow 17-21, 21-17, 21-16 win.
Momota shot to the top of the rankings this year after a gambling scandal saw him slapped with a 12-month ban.
He will next face Asian Games winner Jonatan Christie, who took down seventh seed Anthony Ginting 21-15, 25-23 in an all-Indonesian derby.
Elsewhere, sixth seed South Korean Son Wan-ho faced down some menacing smash shots from Khosit Phetpradab, clawing back a 5-10 deficit in the second game against the Thai to advance to the last eight 21-15, 21-19.
Spain’s Olympic champion Carolina Marin roared into the women’s quarterfinals after blitzing Canadian Michelle Li 21-14, 21-8 in a triumphant rematch of her second-round loss last year.
Third seed PV Sindhu of India suffered a 24-26, 20-22 upset at the hands of South Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun while Pornpawee Chochuwong reached the last eight after wearing out Mia Blichfeldt 17-21, 21-10, 21-13, a day after the Thai upset fourth seed Chen Yufei of China in the first round.
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