KUALA LUMPUR: Having won the world title twice and achieving a career-high world No. 1 ranking, Japan's Kento Momota had all the makings of becoming a badminton legend.
However, a near-fatal crash in 2020 threw the 29-year-old's career into free fall.
On Saturday, the Japanese Olympic Committee confirmed that Momota has been withdrawn from the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games due to an injury.
With his world ranking now down to No. 48, one cannot help but wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the once-revered shuttler.
Lee Chong Wei, a former world No. 1, expresses sympathy for his ex-rival's current situation.
"We will never know what is really going on with Momota. He has achieved so much, yet it seems like his impressive career is short-lived.
"From getting banned by the Japan Badminton Association to being a two-time world champion, Momota also made history when he became the first Japanese men's singles player to occupy the world No. 1 spot.
"Yes, from what we see and based on his recent results, it does look like he is slowly slipping away.
"I feel sorry for him, and I admit it is going to be very difficult for him to catch up," said Chong Wei.
Chong Wei, who defeated Momota to win his record 12th Malaysia Open crown in 2018, still believes the former will pass into legend in his own right.
"We can only wish him the best.
"Everything said and done, we have a lot to learn from Momota.
"When he came out from suspension, he addressed the public, admitted his mistakes and apologised.
"He then went on to win the world title twice, won a record 11 titles in a single season and became the first men's singles player from Japan to be world No. 1.
"The only thing missing from his trophy cabinet is an Olympic medal.
"As an athlete, regardless of the colour, you want to win that Olympic medal, and unfortunately, that looks like a dream that is slipping away from Momota," added Chong Wei, a three-time Olympic silver medallist.
World No. 30 Koki Watanabe will replace Momota in the Asian Games.
The Asian Games badminton event is from Sept 27-Oct 7 at the Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou.