Kento Momota celebrates his win in Malaysia - hours before things took a turn for the worse.Image caption: Kento Momota celebrates his win in Malaysia - hours before things took a turn for the worse.
Japan’s world No.1 ranked player Kento Momota is hoping to avoid missing a second successive Olympic Games – this time in his own country of course – after being forced to miss the All England Championships in Birmingham.
Momota, 25, missed the Rio games in 2016 because Japan’s badminton officials suspended him for visiting an illegal casino, but he returned in 2017 and reached the top of the world rankings again.
In January this year, the taxi taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport after his victory in the Malaysia Masters – his 11th title in a record-breaking year - was involved in a crash that killed the driver and left Momota with a broken nose and facial injuries.
Expecting to miss two months at most, Momota was then told in February that the damage was worse than originally thought and he would need surgery to mend an eye socket.
"There were times when my spirit was almost broken," he said, shortly after his return to training. "I feel I am regaining the sharpness of my movements now. I really want to go for the gold at the Tokyo Olympics."
What is the All England Open Badminton Championships?
Taking place from
11-15 March at Arena Birmingham, the All England Championships bring together the
world's best badminton players for the longest-running tournament in the sport.
England's Marcus
Ellis and Lauren Smith, who have overtaken compatriots Chris and Gabby Adcock in the world rankings,
will also be targeting a strong run in the mixed doubles.
Ellis is also playing
in the men's doubles with Chris Langridge, with whom he won Olympic bronze in
Rio in 2016.
Scotland's Kirsty
Gilmour, the only British entrant in either singles draw, lost her first-round match to a seeded opponent but remains in the running for an Olympic place.
World number one Chen Yufei of China will be defending her title in the women's event.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
BBC TV & online coverage times
All times are BST and subject to change.
The BBC has live coverage of all five days of the All England Open Badminton Championships.
Thursday, 12 March
Round of 16
11:00-20:00, BBC Red
Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
Friday, 13 March
Quarter-finals
10:00-15:00, BBC Red
Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
17:00-22:00, BBC Red
Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
Saturday, 14 March
Semi-finals
09:00-14:30, BBC Red
Button, Connected TV and online
17:30-22:00, BBC Red
Button, Connected TV and online
Sunday, 15 March
Finals day
12:00-18:00, BBC Sport website and app
Get Inspired
Get Inspired
#GetInspired
Badminton is one of the most-played sports in the United
Kingdom, with more than a million of us taking to the court each month - so, whether
you want to play some casual rallies with a pal or have a competitive game,
badminton is for everyone. It is an easy sport to pick up, most leisure centres
have courts and you can hire racquets and shuttlecocks.
Video caption: 'My late dad would be proud of me trying to be one of the best in the world''My late dad would be proud of me trying to be one of the best in the world'
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
AFPCopyright: AFP Kento Momota celebrates his win in Malaysia - hours before things took a turn for the worse.Image caption: Kento Momota celebrates his win in Malaysia - hours before things took a turn for the worse. 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
Video caption: 'My late dad would be proud of me trying to be one of the best in the world''My late dad would be proud of me trying to be one of the best in the world'
Latest PostAdcocks out of All England Championships
Chris and Gabby Adcock lose in the first round of the mixed doubles at the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham.
Read moreWorld No.1 Momota misses All Englands
Japan’s world No.1 ranked player Kento Momota is hoping to avoid missing a second successive Olympic Games – this time in his own country of course – after being forced to miss the All England Championships in Birmingham.
Momota, 25, missed the Rio games in 2016 because Japan’s badminton officials suspended him for visiting an illegal casino, but he returned in 2017 and reached the top of the world rankings again.
In January this year, the taxi taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport after his victory in the Malaysia Masters – his 11th title in a record-breaking year - was involved in a crash that killed the driver and left Momota with a broken nose and facial injuries.
Expecting to miss two months at most, Momota was then told in February that the damage was worse than originally thought and he would need surgery to mend an eye socket.
"There were times when my spirit was almost broken," he said, shortly after his return to training. "I feel I am regaining the sharpness of my movements now. I really want to go for the gold at the Tokyo Olympics."
What is the All England Open Badminton Championships?
Taking place from 11-15 March at Arena Birmingham, the All England Championships bring together the world's best badminton players for the longest-running tournament in the sport.
England's Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith, who have overtaken compatriots Chris and Gabby Adcock in the world rankings, will also be targeting a strong run in the mixed doubles.
Ellis is also playing in the men's doubles with Chris Langridge, with whom he won Olympic bronze in Rio in 2016.
Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour, the only British entrant in either singles draw, lost her first-round match to a seeded opponent but remains in the running for an Olympic place.
World number one Chen Yufei of China will be defending her title in the women's event.
BBC TV & online coverage times
All times are BST and subject to change.
The BBC has live coverage of all five days of the All England Open Badminton Championships.
Thursday, 12 March
Round of 16
11:00-20:00, BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
Friday, 13 March
Quarter-finals
10:00-15:00, BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
17:00-22:00, BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
Saturday, 14 March
Semi-finals
09:00-14:30, BBC Red Button, Connected TV and online
17:30-22:00, BBC Red Button, Connected TV and online
Sunday, 15 March
Finals day
12:00-18:00, BBC Sport website and app
Get Inspired
Get Inspired
#GetInspired
Badminton is one of the most-played sports in the United Kingdom, with more than a million of us taking to the court each month - so, whether you want to play some casual rallies with a pal or have a competitive game, badminton is for everyone. It is an easy sport to pick up, most leisure centres have courts and you can hire racquets and shuttlecocks.
Visit these club locators in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, or contact your local leisure centre if you want to play casually.
Video content