Badminton
KENTO MOMOTA : FROM GAMBLING SCANDAL AND SUSPENSION TO WORLD NO. 1 BADMINTON PLAYER
The world’s top male badminton player, Kento Momota, was involved in a car accident in Malaysia early this Monday (Jan 13). The accident resulted in the driver of the van carrying the Japanese shuttler and three others being killed.
The incident has cast a pall over Momota’s celebrations after he had captured the Malaysia Masters title with ease on Sunday, when he beat Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen 24-22, 21-11.
It remains to be seen if the accident will affect his preparations for the upcoming Olympics, where he is bidding to win a first gold at his home Games.
Here are five things to know about Momota:
1. He was born on Sept 1, 1994 in Mitoyo, in Japan’s Kagawa prefecture.
2. He owns two World Championships, with his victory over Denmark’s Anders Antonsen last August making him only the fourth male player to win back-to-back world titles. That honour roll was previously occupied only by Chinese players – Yang Yang, Lin Dan and Chen Long.
3. He is also a two-time Asian champion and last year became the first Japanese man to win the prestigious All England Open.
4. Citing their longevity at the summit of the sport, his idols are Chinese legend Lin and Malaysian icon Lee Chong Wei. Last year, Momota told The Straits Times:
“I, too, would like to remain No. 1 for a prolonged period. Of course, I feel the pressure of being No. 1 sometimes. But I’m trying not to think so much about it because that can be crippling. I’d rather focus on my game.”
5. In April 2016, just four months before the Rio Olympics and when he was ranked second in the world, he was banned “indefinitely” by the Nippon Badminton Association after admitting to visiting an illegal casino, a crime punishable by imprisonment in Japan. He was also removed from the world rankings.
By the time he returned to competition in July 2017, he was world No. 282 and had to fight his way back playing in the lowly Challenger circuit to earn enough points to gain entry into the bigger tournaments. He called it the “darkest period of my
6. But during his suspension, the 1.75m-tall player retrained his focus and worked hard on physical conditioning and court control.
7. He is a two-time champion of the Singapore Open, though it remains to be seen if he will return this year to defend his title. The tournament takes place from April 7-12 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
8. Last year, he claimed a record 11 tour titles.
9. His stellar 2019 saw him become the first male badminton player to earn US$500,000 (S$673,000) in a calendar year. Momota made US$120,000 from winning the lucrative HSBC BWF World Tour Finals. He also claimed two Super 1000 events (All England and China Opens), three Super 750 events (Japan Open, Denmark Open, Fuzhou China Open) two Super 500 (Singapore Open, Korea Open) and one Super 300 (German Open) title.
10. The left-hander is known for his ability to manipulate his opponents in long rallies and explosive movements on court.
-Strait Times
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has continued its nationwide grassroots development drive with a two-day outreach training held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Organised in collaboration with the Adamawa State Sports Council, the State Ministry of Education, and the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Adamawa chapter, the training took place on 24 and 25 September 2025 at the General Murtala Mohammed College hall.
A total of 20 Physical Education teachers and 80 secondary school students from the Yola area participated in the intensive programme, which aimed to introduce badminton to schools and promote the sport at the grassroots level.
The training was facilitated by a team of five coaches led by George Shitta, who also serves as the Director of Sports at the Taraba State Sports Commission. Participants were taken through the fundamentals of badminton, including grip techniques, footwork, serving, stroke execution, game strategy, and proper warm-up routines.
According to the organisers, the programme was part of the BFN’s ongoing partnership with the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, which has supported similar “Shuttle Time” and “Outreach Badminton Training” sessions across the country over the past three years. These sessions are designed to help teachers and students learn the game together while fostering teamwork, discipline, and social development.
The trainees actively engaged with the coaches — asking questions, sharing experiences, and demonstrating newly acquired skills. At the end of the programme, each participating school received badminton kits, including rackets, shuttlecocks, and nets, to help sustain practice beyond the training.
The Director of the Adamawa State Sports Council, Mr. Daniel Ahmed, graced the event, while the lead facilitator, George Shitta, paid courtesy visits to key education stakeholders — Hajiya Aisha M. Umar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Birsan Panuel, Executive Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
Organisers described the initiative as a model of effective collaboration among sports authorities, education agencies, and development partners — a partnership they hope will continue to enhance both the academic and athletic growth of teachers, coaches, and students in Adamawa State.
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The curtain fell on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday, with host nation Nigeria making the podium and the event earning praise as a model for sports tourism in Africa.
Though global heavyweights dominated the finals, Nigeria’s Obanisola and her partner gave the home crowd reason to cheer by clinching bronze in the Women’s Doubles, ensuring the green and white were represented on the podium.
Elsewhere, India’s S. Lele defended her Women’s Singles crown with a 21-15, 21-17 victory over compatriot Kashyap, while Russia’s neutral duo Alimov and Ogloblin sealed Men’s Doubles gold against UAE’s Ravikrishna and Rimdahoi.
Tournament organizers hailed the event as a resounding success. “The Lagos International Badminton Classics has once again proven that Nigeria is ready to host world-class sporting events,” said Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN). “We are building a brand that showcases Africa’s talent, hospitality, and passion for badminton.”
With $17,500 prize money shared among winners and athletes praising the hospitality of Lagos, the championship reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing profile as a hub for global sports. The 9th edition in 2026 promises an even bigger spectacle.
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Indonesia stamped their authority on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics, turning the Teslim Balogun Stadium into a stage of triumph as they swept multiple gold medals on the final day of action.
From the opening Mixed Doubles clash to the showpiece Men’s Singles final, the Southeast Asian powerhouse asserted its dominance.
The pair of Prasetyo and Munggaren set the tone by defeating India’s Ravat and Maneesha 21-15, 21-17, before P. Shujiwo powered past Japan’s M. Koga 21-15, 21-17 in a pulsating Men’s Singles final.
The Indonesians celebrate in style
The Women’s Doubles final confirmed Indonesia’s superiority, with Meida and Nastine dispatching UAE’s Quathun and Sreejithparol in just 25 minutes (21-18, 21-7), the shortest contest of the evening.
The highlight of the celebrations came as Indonesia’s national anthem echoed repeatedly through the Okoya Thomas Indoor Hall, with Ambassador Bambang Suharto personally presenting the Men’s Singles trophy to Shujiwo — a moment that underscored the national pride attached to the victories.
With three golds and several silver finishes, Indonesia emerged as the undisputed star nation of Africa’s premier badminton competition.
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