The Super 500 Indonesia Masters will start tomorrow. A tournament somewhat smaller than its Indonesian Open counterpart, but the points to earn in this one are more important than ever.
Unfortunately, this tournament already has a sad start as one of the vehicles associated with the previous tournament, the Malaysia Masters, was involved in an accident.
The driver of the van did not survive. The badminton world extends its condolences to the driver’s family. Luckily, world champion Kento Momota and three others involved in the accident, survived: Japan team assistant coach, Hirayama Yu team physiotherapist Morimoto Akifumi; and Hawkeye system operator, William Thomas. Kento Momota had already previously withdrawn from the Indonesia Masters.
The absence of Momota leaves the men’s singles field entirely open for battle. Viktor Axelsen had just faced Momota in the Malaysia Masters final on Sunday and expressed his sadness following the event.
- Condolences to the driver’s family and the close ones. Wishes for a speedy recovery for Kento Momota, Hirayama Yu, Morimoto Akifumi and William Thomas, Axelsen stated on his Facebook page.
Danish field
Axelsen is one of the favourites to take the men’s singles title at the Indonesia Masters. He already has a tough draw as he faces the legendary Lin Dan in the first round. Last time they played, it was in the previous year’s Singapore Open, where Lin Dan abruptly conceded the match when being 20-13 down in the opening game.
However, Axelsen is not the only Dane that has a chance for the title. World championship silver medalist, Anders Antonsen, comes in as number four seed. He faces Korea’s Son Wan Ho, in a repeat of last year’s first-round here. On that day Antonsen scored his first win over the steady Son and will be hoping for much of the same tomorrow.
Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus might also be in the running, but then he first needs to survive the qualification rounds, starting against Thomas Rouxel, France.
Find all the matches and results of the Indonesian Masters 2020 in Jakarta here.