Badminton

On Sunday, March 19, the Utilita Arena in Birmingham hosted one of the best badminton matches in recent memory. Kento Momota won the famous All England Open men’s singles title by defeating Viktor Axelsen 24-22, 19-21, and 21-18.  The highly anticipated match between the two best players in the world lived up to the enormous hype, as the Japanese and Danish superstars displayed incredible athleticism and stroke-making throughout a thrilling 77-minute match. Axelsen took the initiative to grab a 9–6 lead in the first game following some tense early exchanges. The large Dane appeared to have prevailed against Momota thanks to his sideways court movement and smashes that resembled bullets.  However, the Japanese lefty remains a persistent figure. With his characteristic whippy power, he dug deep and started hitting the shuttle, launching a flurry of wins from the back of the court to pull Axelsen back in at 12-12. What transpired was a gladiatorial contest between two of the world’s most athletically fit and explosive athletes. As they exchanged furious rallies, neither gave an inch, frantically trying to recover the other’s sharpest angles.  When the score was tied at 20, it appeared as though Axelsen had finally delivered the game-winning punch. However, Momota responded with three incredible baskets and a game-saving save to somehow win the first game 24–22 after 33 frenzied minutes. If the first game demonstrated the two fighters’ strength and energy, the second game emphasized their extraordinary defensive skills and mental toughness. Axelsen gave away an 18-16 lead, but he rallied brilliantly to tie the match by winning the second 21-19.  Both players elevated their game even further in the finale, if that was even possible, and the intensity that characterized the semifinals persisted. The audience was exposed to gladiatorial physical and mental confrontations during rallies that lasted more than 30 shots, with neither side wanting to give up. After a furious start, Axelsen jumped out to a 9-3 lead, but Momota, who never gives up, regained his calm and started to fight his way back. The Arena exploded in roars in admiration of the outstanding abilities on show when the world #2 tied the match at 14-14.  Ultimately, Momota’s unwavering consistency and the might of his groundstrokes were what won out. The Japanese sensation persevered despite many lung-busting rallies to close the gap, maintaining perfect length and accuracy. Serving for the match at 20-17, Momota overcame two nervous errors before completing a picture-perfect driving net shot to earn his fourth championship point. He let out a yell of happiness that was equal parts sheer joy and tiredness from being pushed to the limit.  Axelsen, who was equally exhausted but gracious in his loss, gave Momota a hearty hug at the net to honour his formidable opponent for an extraordinary performance. Enthralled by their great shot-making and battling spirit, the Birmingham crowd gave them each a standing ovation.  In retrospect, Momota remarked that to defeat Axelsen in a bout that would live in legend status, he had to muster every last ounce of will. “Viktor had a fantastic defence, and I had to fight hard to score every point. The Japanese celebrity stated, “There were times when I thought my body was going to give up, but I simply tried to stay focused one shot at a time. “The purpose of playing is to put oneself to the test against the world’s top players in matches like this. I’m simply happy that I was able to prevail in the end.”  Naturally, Axelsen was devastated by the loss, but he was quite proud of his performance in the United Kingdom. “I left everything out there today, so I can’t be too disappointed with my effort, even though I wanted to win the title,” said the Dane. “Kento is such an exceptional player and I had to produce some of the best badminton of my career just to take it to a decider.” “Matches like this one between Kento and myself are elevating the game to new levels. We are contributing to badminton’s illustrious history.”  Both newbies and badminton enthusiasts who were fortunate enough to watch this historic match in Birmingham shared that opinion. The shuttle skills of Momota and Axelsen had the audience in stitches from beginning to end, even though rally sports sometimes fall short of truly capturing their brilliance on television. Fans of men’s badminton will be expecting many more epic matches between the greatest players in the world as the sport continues its explosive ascent to prominence on the international scene, given the present depth of skill in the sport.  The extraordinary drama, talent, and winning mentality displayed by the unbreakable Momota and Axelsen in this All-England final will undoubtedly become an iconic point of reference. An amazing advertisement showcasing badminton at its most exciting.