Red-hot number one Kento Momota wins badminton’s China Open

Momota has been in scorching form this year, winning the World Championships, the Asia Championships and now four events on the World Tour.

World champion Kento Momota won badminton’s Fuzhou China Open on Sunday to add another title to his already spectacular season.

Kento Momota of Japan hits a return against Chen Long of China during their men's singles semi-final match at the China Open 2018 Badminton Championships in Fuzhou, in China's eastern Fujian province on November 10, 2018. (AFP)

Japan’s world number one survived a spirited challenge from Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, defeating the fourth seed 21-13, 11-21, 21-16 in 66 minutes.

The 24-year-old Momota collapsed to the court floor and lay on his back exhausted after finally seeing off Chou.

Momota has been in scorching form this year, winning the World Championships, the Asia Championships and now four events on the World Tour.

His defeat of Chou was a repeat of the Denmark Open final in October, when the explosive Momota similarly prevailed in three games.

Momota, who was expelled from the Japanese team for the 2016 Rio Olympics and banned for over a year for visiting an illegal casino, is now set to compete at this week’s Hong Kong Open.

He is drawn to face ageing former number one Lin Dan of China in his opening match.