Kento Momota admitted he was upset by the postpontment of the Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus after he made a successful recovery from his car accident suffered in Malaysia.
The world number one suffered multiple lacerations in the accident and had to undergo surgery for an eye socket fracture in February after complaining of double vision.
Momota recovered after the surgery and was ready to resume full training to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics that was initially set to take place from July 24 to August 9, but was dealt another blow when the Games was postponed due to the pandemic.
"I only had six months after the surgery. I had no time to relax. I was trying to give my all everyday [in training].
"So it was difficult to process the feeling that I still had to do more," Momota told AFP.
Despite having to wait a little longer to return to action, the reigning world champion recently returned to full training, and vowed to deliver gold next year.
"I can see without any problem while I'm playing. I've been able to give 100 percent in practice. I want to do my best everyday towards the goal of winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics," said Momota, adding the accident and Olympics postpontment "could not be helped".
Momota is still a hot favourite to clinch Japan's first men's singles gold on home turf next year.
Hours before he was involved in the accident which also claimed the driver of the van, the Japanese won the Malaysia Masters with a straight game victory over Viktor Axelsen in January.
Last year, he won 67 of his 73 matches and clinched 11 titles, a record for most titles won by a men's singles shuttler in a season.
Nicolas Anil
Tue Jun 30 2020
Bawa nama negara jauh lebih penting, kata Kento Momota
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