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Kento Momota

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World’s top badminton player injured in car accident that killed driver

By OlympicTalkJan 13, 2020, 11:12 AM EST
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Top-ranked badminton player Kento Momota suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a car accident that killed a driver in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, according to the World Badminton Federation (BWF).

A van carrying Momota and others crashed into a truck around 5 a.m., according to Kyodo News.

Momota, the 2018 and 2019 World singles champion, sustained face lacerations and a sinus and nasal bone fracture. He is in a stable condition after being taken to a hospital.

Three others involved — a Japanese team assistant coach, physiotherapist and Hawkeye system operator — are also in stable condition.

Momota was headed to the airport after winning the Malaysia Masters tournament, according to Kyodo.

Japanese badminton star set to miss Olympics for gambling

Kento Momota
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Associated PressApr 7, 2016, 11:29 AM EDT
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TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese badminton star has admitted to gambling at an illegal casino, damaging his chances of competing at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Kento Momota gambled at a Tokyo casino which was raided by police last May and has since closed, Kyodo News reported Thursday.

Momota, who is second in the world rankings, became the first Japanese man to win a World Championships singles medal when he took bronze in Jakarta last August.

Nippon Badminton Association secretary general Kinji Zeniya said it would be “unable to nominate” Momota to compete at the Olympics.

Gamblers can face up to three years in prison for betting at casinos, which are illegal in Japan.

Momota and teammate Kenichi Tago, who has also admitted to gambling at the same venue, will hold a news conference on Friday.

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