WORLD NO. 1 BADMINTON PLAYER, KENTO MOMOTA DISCHARGED AFTER CAR CRASH

World’s number 1 men singles badminton player, Kento Momota of Japan who was involved in a car crash in Malaysia has now been discharged from the hospital.

The driver conveying the player from his hotel to the airport however died on the spot of the accident.

The player who hours earlier had captured the Malaysia Masters title with ease on Sunday has arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Wednesday (Jan 15) to catch his flight back to Tokyo at 9.40am.

The 25-year-old and his heavily-escorted entourage were seen arriving at the KLIA departure hall entrance in a black SUV at 8.15am before being transported in a buggy to a special room.

Momota had earlier checked into the Sama-Sama Hotel after he was discharged from the Putrajaya Hospital.

He was supposed to have returned to Japan in the early hours of Monday morning.

Also with Momota in the van were Japan national team assistant coach Yu Hirayama and physiologist Arkifuki Morimoto.

They were also hurt in the road accident that killed their driver N. Bavan.

Momota suffered multiple lacerations to his face and a nasal bone fracture, the Badminton World Federation said.

He is expected to be one of Japan’s biggest hopes for gold at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.