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Momota鈥檚 title-winning redemption
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Japan鈥檚 Kento Momota outgunned Thai rival Khosit Phetpradab 21-14, 21-11 in a one-sided final to capture the Japan Open badminton title yesterday.
The 24-year-old sank to his knees after a towering smash completed a comfortable win, kissing the Japanese badge on his shirt as he took another step towards redemption following a gambling scandal that threatened to ruin his career.
鈥淚 was just so overwhelmed at winning and the sense of what I achieved,鈥 said Momota after becoming the first Japanese player to win the men鈥檚 singles crown. 鈥淚 kept telling myself 鈥榓 couple more points, a couple more points鈥 鈥 and then finally it was over. The home support was a massive help.鈥
Momota, who was booted off the Japanese team for the 2016 Rio Olympics and banned for over a year for visiting an illegal casino, had been furious with himself after crashing out of the Asian Games at the semifinal stage last month. But having beaten China鈥檚 two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan in the Tokyo quarter-finals and top seed Viktor Axelsen in the last four, Momota鈥檚 run to the Japan Open title was fully deserved as he dominated his matches with his attacking style.
鈥淚 played loose at the world championships,鈥 said Momota, who became the first Japanese man to win the world title earlier this year. 鈥淏ut when I could see the finish line my hands were shaking. That鈥檚 how much I wanted it. This victory is for all the people who have stood by me through everything.鈥
Olympic champion Carolina Marin retained her Japan Open women鈥檚 singles title by beating local favorite Nozomi Okuhara 21-19, 17-21, 21-11.
The Spanish triple world champion broke her opponent鈥檚 brave resistance with a barrage of smashes that finally brought an end to an absorbing contest.
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