It was a fitting recognition for Kento Momota of Japan when he was named the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) male player of the year.
Momota has been dominant this year, winning a total of 10 titles, including the world title.
He beat the other nominees – two-time award recipient Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia, Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan and Zheng Siwei of China.
The announcement was made yesterday during the players’ gala dinner in Guangzhou, China, on the eve of the World Tour Finals in Tianhe Gymnasium.
Buoyed by the award, world No. 1 Momota is expected to end the year with another title when he begins his campaign in the men’s singles event of the World Tour Finals today.
He takes on Wang Tzu-wei of Taiwan in the opening Group A match. The others in his group are Jonatan Christie of Indonesia and Anders Antonsen of Denmark.
In Group B are Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, Chen Long (Chn), Viktor Axelsen (Den) and Anthony Ginting (Ina).
ROLL OF HONOUR
Men
Player of the year: Kento Momota (men’s singles, Japan)
Para badminton player of the year: Qu Zimo (China)
Women
Player of the year: Huang Yaqiong (mixed doubles, China)
Para badminton player of the year: Leani Ratri Oktila (Indonesia)
Eddy Choong most promising player of the year: An Se-young (women’s singles, South Korea)
Most improved player of the year: Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong (women’s doubles, South Korea