KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Kento Momot (pix)a has withdrawn from next weekâs badminton world championships with a back injury while most Indonesian players have pulled out due to coronavirus concerns, officials said Wednesday.
The world No. 2âs back problem had already forced him to withdraw from the World Tour Finals in Indonesia last week, and the Japanese player has returned home.
His withdrawal from the world championships is a further blow for Momota, who has had a turbulent two years since suffering a career-threatening car crash in Malaysia.
He flopped at the Tokyo Games, and was recently overtaken as world No. 1 by Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen.
All Indonesian players who are members of the countryâs national association have withdrawn from the championships over virus worries, governing body the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said.
Spain, where the tournament takes place from Dec 12 to 19, is suffering a surge in Covid-19 cases, like much of Europe.
The BWF said in a statement it was âdisappointedâ with the Indonesian decision and âregret that the withdrawal took place after the drawâ.
Two Indonesian players who are not affiliated with the national association will still compete in the mixed doubles, their club confirmed to AFP.
The BWF said a âcomprehensive set of safety protocolsâ is being implemented for the tournament, which will take place inside a bio-secure bubble. â AFP
