TOKYO: Japanese badminton star Kento Momota blamed his fear of failure for a “weak-spirited” second-round exit from the world championships on Wednesday after losing 21-17, 21-16 to India’s HS Prannoy.

Number two seed Momota, whose career has been in free fall since a car crash more than two years ago left him badly hurt, limped out after another meek performance in front of a stunned crowd in Tokyo.

Momota, once badminton’s undisputed king, looked a shadow of the player that won a record 11 titles in 2019, and he pulled no punches when analysing his own performance after the match.

“I was so scared of making mistakes that I shrunk within myself a little and I think that was why I lost,” the crestfallen 27-year-old told reporters.

“I realised that midway through the match, but I couldn’t do anything to fix it. I was weak-spirited and that’s so frustrating.”

AFP