Momota Advances Into Second Round Of Malaysian Open

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Bernama) – Being behind in the first set does not stop up-and-coming player, Kento Momota from confirming his advance into the second round of the 2018 Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur Sports City. In the first round of the game Wednesday, Japan's Momota lost in the first set 12-21 but rose in the next two sets to beat Anthony Sinisuka Ginting from Indonesia with 21-17 and 21-14 in the match lasting an hour and 21 minutes. Momota who is currently ranked the world's 10th is scheduled to face off against World No. 2 Son Wan Ho from South Korea or his team-mate Kenta Nishimoto who will play Wednesday night. "Ginting was a good player, he can control the game, my stamina helped me to comeback and win the game. I never gave up on the game and focused on every shot, "he told reporters after the match. After a year of suspension by the Nippon Badminton Association, Momota is again attracting the attention of badminton fans in the world by consistently beating the world's best players in several previous tournaments to be in the top ten. Momota when met by reporters said he was no longer thinking about world ranking but wanted to enjoy all the games he was facing. "After the suspension, I am facing difficulty to control myself but the support from spectators encourages me to play well in every tournament. Malaysia's spectators also cheer me up to win this game," said Momota, who had been in the top three in the world before he was found guilty of a gambling scandal. Among the world's leading players in the first round are world number one women's Tai Tzu Ying who defeated national representative Soniia Cheah 21-10, 21-9 and world number three Pusarla V. Sindhu from India who beat Aya Ohori of Japan 26-24, 21-12, in the same event. World number one men's doubles Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo from Indonesia did not face problems defeating Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han from Taiwan with a straight set, 21-16, 21-17. -- BERNAMA