Even when Kento Momota is not active on the badminton circuit, he still scooped one of the biggest awards after writing himself into the Guinness World Records for "Most Badminton Men’s Singles Titles in a Season".
The Japanese world number one achieved that feat last year after winning 11 titles to surpass Lee Chong Wei's record of 10 back in 2010.
“I’m very happy to be certified as a Guinness World Record holder. It’s not just my strength, but the support of the people around me. I will do my best to play badminton every day so that I can break this record too,” said Momota upon receiving his award.
桃田賢斗選手が「バドミントン男子シングルス年間最多勝利数」で #ギネス世界記録 に認定㊗ 本人からコメントもいただきました?本当に、おめでとうございます！！
— ギネス世界記録?最新書籍11/18発売 (@GWRJapan) November 17, 2020
桃田選手の記録は、本日発売の書籍『ギネス世界記録2021』にも掲載されています? ぜひチェックしてみてください? pic.twitter.com/ydJNOBOW4W
The two-time world champion did not start 2019 like a world record holder after losing in the opening round of the Malaysia Masters, before he fell in the Indonesia Masters final to Anders Antonsen.
But Momota was slowly warming up and captured his first title at the German Open, before triumphing over Viktor Axelsen to clinch the All-England Championships.
The Singapore Open soon followed, before he took home the Asian Championships crown.
The second half of last year belonged exclusively to Momota, who went on to win the Japan Open, the World Championships, China Open, Korea Open, Denmark Open, Fuzhou China Open before ending the year with the World Tour Finals title.
In total, he won eight of nine titles from July to December.
He picked up where he left off early this year with the Malaysia Masters title, before an accident kept him out of action until the badminton season was suspended due to the pandemic.
Momota was scheduled to defend the Denmark Open title last month, but pulled out at the last minute due to the coronavirus situation in the country.
He will be in action next month at the All-Japan national championships.