Momota Kento
Two-time BWF World Champion and badminton men’s singles world number two Momota Kento is on the hunt for more titles following his stellar 2019 campaign. His momentum, however, was curtailed by the pandemic and a car accident.
Already a name in the juniors’ circuit where he won the World Junior title in 2012 in front of his countrymates in Chiba, Japan, Momota clinched the first of his 32 men’s singles titles in Estonia a year later.
2014 became a breakout year for the lefty, as his Thomas Cup-winning exploits helped him secure the 13th seed in his World Championship debut. The following year in Jakarta, he secured a semifinal finish as the fourth seed.
Momota got back on track in 2018. He won seven tournaments, including his maiden Asian and World titles to claim the top ranking, which he held for 121 straight weeks.
“The King” followed it up with a 2019 to remember. He entered the Guinness World Records for most single-season men’s singles title wins with 11, including his retention of the Asian and World crowns.