Shean Aroher C.

Adlawan
BSED English IIIA

Japan’s Momota eyes Olympic gold after recovering from crash

Kento Momota feared he would be unable to play badminton again after a road accident in Malaysia left
him with serious injuries last year, but having returned to full fitness the world No.1 says he is gunning
for gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

Japanese shuttler Momota, 26, fractured his nose and right eye socket, and sustained multiple
lacerations to his face after the van he was traveling in crashed into a truck in January last year.

The accident, which killed the van driver, occurred hours after Momota had secured his first victory of
the season at the Malaysia Masters.

“For me, getting through that crash was a massive thing; my outlook on life really changed after that,”
Momota, who is set to return to elite-level competition at this week’s All England Open, told BBC.

“I stopped taking for granted the everyday things that I was able to do in life. I never really thought
about quitting the sport but I did worry that I would be left unable to play it anymore.

“I was also able to rediscover the joy in badminton.”

Momota said he does not feel the pressure of being one of Japan’s major hopes for a gold medal at the
Games, which were postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ll just do the best I can and not listen to any other voices around me,” he said. “I just want to go for
that gold medal to grow the profile of badminton in my country.”

Source: https://sports.inquirer.net/418132/japans-momota-eyes-olympic-gold-after-recovering-from-
crash
 Sepak Takraw adds two more gold medals to Philippine haul in SEAG

SUBIC, Zambales — The Philippine sepak takraw team joined the party, winning two gold medals in hoop
event in the 30th Southeast Asia Games on Sunday at the Subic Gymnasium here.

The sepak team helped the Philippines raise its haul to 18 golds - dancesport with eight, arnis with four,
triathlon and sepak takraw with two golds each and wushu and men's artistic gymnastics with one
apiece.

The women’s team, led by playing coach Deseree Autor along with Josefina Maat, Sara Jean Kalalo, Mary
Ann Lopez, Jean Marie Sucalit and Abigail Sinugbohan, posted 670 points to escape Indonesia (660).

Earlier, the men’s team also scored 670 points against Laos (430), it was enough cushion for the
Philippine team as Cambodia registered 450 points, shoving Laos out of the silver medal race.

The nationals will try to sustain the momentum when the men’s team composed of Janjan Bobier,
Metodio Sueco, Emmanuel Escote, John Jeffrey Morcellos and Christian George Encabo see action in the
centerpiece event regu, team double and team regu starting on Monday.

After a rousing start, the women’s team is also looking to put on a show in the women’s regu.

Source: https://www.spin.ph/multisport/sea-games/sepak-takraw-adds-two-more-golds-for-philippines-
in-seag-a796-20191201?ref=article_tag