The Olympic dream is still alive for Japan's superstar shuttler Momota Kento.
Involved in an accident in January in which the driver of the vehicle lost his life, Momota needed surgery in February for an eye socket fracture and has just opened up to reporters in Tokyo about why he almost quit the sport altogether.

"At the time I thought of giving it all up," said the 25-year-old.

"After my accident I couldn't move at all, and I was striving to recover my fitness. Then the eye issue occurred and I was grappling with whether to have surgery or not."
"My spirit was almost broken" - Kento Momota

But words of love and support from friends, family, and fans motivated him to go on and to retrain his sights on a gold medal at his home Games at Tokyo 2020.

"Thanks to the words of encouragement I received, I want to aim to win a gold medal," he said.

Still badminton's World No.1 despite being out of action since January, Momota has not set a date for his return, which is expected to be some time in May.


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