Kento Momota makes a comeback after an absence of one and a half years

Even though he has not played internationally since mid-2024, Kento Momota still enjoys strong fan admiration.

Badminton fans worldwide have finally witnessed the return of former world number one star Kento Momota to international competition. The Japanese player chose to participate in the King Cup International Badminton Open 2025, organized by the legend Lin Dan, starting on December 26.

In his opening match, Momota faced Shi Yuqi, the current world number one in badminton. The exciting clash between these two big names was thrilling, with Shi maintaining better form, but Momota also showcased high-level defensive skills. Ultimately, the home player won in two games with scores of 21-19 and 21-15.

With a head-to-head record tied at 6-6, Shi Yuqi finally managed to surpass Kento Momota, although the King Cup result does not count towards their official rivalry record.

Although eliminated, fans will still get to see Momota compete at the King Cup as he teams up with Jason Teh Jia Heng to face Peter Gade and Victor Lai at 5:30 PM on December 27 (Vietnam time).

Kento Momota is a legendary name in world badminton, but a traffic accident in 2020 along with other injuries took away much of his prime form. He announced his retirement from international competition after the Thomas & Uber Cup held from late April to early May 2024, but he continues to play in domestic tournaments.

Lin Dan had expressed his wish to invite Momota to the King Cup since last season and finally, the 31-year-old player accepted the invitation.

"I hoped to invite Momota for the upcoming season (2025). This is the King Cup – a tournament for kings, and in my heart, he is a king!"said Super Dan.