Kento Momota is a Japanese badminton player who belongs to the Mino village of Kagawa district of Japan.
Full name: Kento Momota
Country: Japan
Date of birth: 1 September 1994
Profession: Professional badminton player
Career Span: 2011- present
Momota is well known for his amazing skills and relentless playing style on the court.
And today, he is ranked as World’s No 1 singles player.
He has won several major badminton tournaments, including two World Championships, two Asian Championships, and one All England title.
Rather than this, Momota entered the Guinness Book of World Records for “The most badminton men’s singles titles in a season” for his achievements by winning 11 titles in the 2019 season.
Achievements of Kento Momota
Momota’s international journey began in 2011 when he won a bronze medal in boys singles at Asian Junior Championship in Taipei.
In 2012, he won the title of Swedish Masters and Australian Internationals.
Rather than this, he has won several major tournaments, which include:
- World Championships- Gold in 2018 and 2019, bronze in 2015.
- Sudirman Cup- Silver medals in 2015, 2019, and 2021.
- Thomas Cup- Gold in 2015, silver in 2018, bronze in 2020 and 2022.
- Asian Games- A bronze in 2018.
- Asian Championships- Gold in 2018 and 2019.
- Asian Team Championships- A silver in 2016.
- World Junior Championships- A gold in 2012, a silver in the same year, and a bronze in 2011.
- Asian Junior Championships- Two gold medals in 2012 and a bronze in 2011.
Also, take a look at this video, where Kento Momota can be seen playing some of his best rallies and shots:
Badminton Rackets used by Kento Momota
Momota is well known for his solid, balanced gameplay and stylish look.
And here I have mentioned some badminton rackets, which he uses:
2011 and before (Yonex Arcsaber Z Slash)
When Momota began his career, he used Yonex Arcsaber Z Slash, which holds an oval head shape and less box frame.
Rather than this, it moves very fast in the air, which helps in increasing your swing speed.
2012- 2013 (Yonex Voltric Z Force)
Yonex Voltric Z Force is the predecessor to Z Force 2.
It is one of the earliest rackets of the very successful Voltric series.
Rather than this, Yonex Voltric Z Force is a heavy-head racket that allows you to play some heavy smashes.
2014- 2016 (Yonex Voltric Z Force 2)
Kento Momota used the black matte version of Yonex Voltric Z Force 2 during Thomas Cup, Uber Cup 2014 and World Championship 2015.
Yonex Voltric Z Force 2 is one of the iconic rackets designed and launched by Yonex, as it was launched before the All England 2014.
This racket holds a head-heavy frame and is best for offensive and attacking singles players.
Also, it needs to improve in playing any defensive shots.
2017 (Yonex Doura Z Strike)
Kento Momota started using this racket during his return from suspension in the Japan National Championships.
Doura Z Strike is a weird racket, but some players love to play with it.
Also, it holds a very small frame and a long and stiff shaft.
2018 (Yonex Astrox 88 D)
Yonex launched Yonex Astrox 88D and 88S, where D stands for dominate and S stand for Skills.
88D is a head-heavy racket more suitable for offensive and attacking single gameplay.
Thus Kento Momota used Yonex Astrox 88D during 2018 for a short period.
2018- 2021 (Yonex Astrox 99)
After Astrox 77, 88D, and 88S, Yonex launched Astrox 99 in 2018.
This racket is specifically designed for singles, as it holds an orange colour and provides an interesting feel while playing.
Talking about its features, it is a stiff and head-heavy racket, which is more suitable for singles players than doubles players.
Rather than this, it is not fast as Yonex Astrox 88D but still allows you to perform some good smashes and overhead shots.
2021- Present (Yonex Astrox 99 Pro)
Currently, Kento Momota is using Yonex Astrox 99 Pro, as it is featured with a new Power-Assist Bumper, which enhances the weight transfer to the shuttle to perform more powerful smashes.
Kento Momota net-worth and salary
The net worth of Kento Momota is estimated at around $7 million.
His main source of income is from his career as a badminton player, endorsements that he signs with some top brands, and the prize money he wins at the tournaments and championships.
Momota’s successful career has earned him a luxurious lifestyle, a beautiful house, and fancy cars.
Also, he is one of the world’s richest and most influential badminton players.
Where did Kento Momota take his training?
Kento Momota was born in Tokyo, Japan, to Nobuhiro Momota, his father. Still, his mother’s name remained a mystery to the public, while his older sister, Momota Meiko, was his primary caregiver.
From the junior level, he started playing badminton and began his career in this sport at a very young age.
Momota started playing this sport in the second grade of elementary school, after which he won his first title in a fairly prestigious tournament (the All Japan Elementary School Championships).
After completing his elementary school, he continued his studies in Junior High School in Fukushima Prefecture. He won men’s singles championships in his third year but at the junior level.
And after graduating from junior high school, Momota studied at Tomioka High School in Fukushima prefecture to sharpen his skills.
In 2011 Momota joined the Japanese national team and was expected to become a future star.
He faced a lot of defeats during 2011-2012, but somehow he managed to learn from his mistakes.
In 2013, NTT east (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation), the largest telecommunications company in Japan, asked Momota to join them, after which Momota officially joined the club that raised its name in April 2013.
Later in 2018, he returned to the Japanese national team.
In 2020 he faced an injury in a car accident, as he sustained the injury, but his driver, Bavan a/l Nageswarau, was killed in the accident at about 4:45 a.m.
After sustaining the injury, he won his first tournament of the season, The Malaysian Masters.
And later, he re-joined the Japanese national team for a training camp after progressing in his recovery from a January car accident.
Coach of Kento Momota
Full name:Yousuke Nakanishi
Country: Japan
Date of Birth: 30 August 1979
Profession: Former badminton player
Yousuke Nakanishi is a former Japanese badminton player, who played in the 2007 BWF World Championships in men’s singles, and was defeated in the second round by Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia, 21-15, 21-16.
It is said that every great athlete is a great coach, and currently, he’s training Kento Momota under his guidance after Momota sustained his injury.
Rather than this, the world’s number one men’s badminton player, Kento Momota, was once trained by Malaysian coach Izuna Ibrahim during his youth.
But the man who helped shape Kento’s career has sadly passed away due to intracranial bleeding.
Later he was buried at the Kampung Banggol Muslim Cemetery.