Momota injured, driver killed in crash
Print Edition
World No. 1 Kento Momota was injured and his driver was killed in a crash near Kuala Lumpur yesterday just hours after he won the Malaysia Masters.
Police said the Japanese star, 25, suffered a broken nose and cuts to his face when the van carrying him to the city’s airport crashed early in the morning, in a blow to his preparations for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The driver was killed at the scene after the vehicle collided with a slow-moving lorry on a highway. An assistant coach, a physiotherapist, and a badminton official also suffered minor injuries.
The accident came after the dominant Japanese star began his 2020 season in style on Sunday with victory over Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in Kuala Lumpur.
“It’s truly tragic, especially involving a badminton icon like Momota,” Malaysian sports minister Syed Saddiq told reporters, after visiting the injured at the Putrajaya Hospital south of the capital.
But he added those hurt were “recovering well, (and) all four are also in stable condition.”
The others hurt suffered facial, leg, hand and head injuries, according to the police.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia said in a statement it was “saddened” by the crash.
The accident happened around 4:40am, and 10 firefighters rushed to the scene, senior fire and rescue department official Norazam Khamis said.
The injured “were able to walk out of the van by themselves with some scratches,” he added. Pictures showed the front of the van crushed against a lorry but the back section appeared intact.
Momota enjoyed a stellar 2019, winning a record 11 titles, including the world championships, Asia Championships and All England Open, a turnaround for a player who had been banned for gambling in 2016.
This means he won more tournaments in a season that any other men’s player, including Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and Chinese great Lin Dan.
There is only one major individual title missing from the Japanese player’s trophy haul — Olympic gold.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
