The world No.1 made his return to competition in the All-Japan National Championships in Tokyo in December. He feared his career might be over after fracturing an eye socket in a car crash on the way to Kuala Lumpur airport after his victory in the Malaysia Masters last January, in which his driver was killed. Momota, who was expected to be one of Japan’s favourites for a gold medal in Tokyo, is now trying to recapture the form that saw him win 11 titles last year. He admitted his spirit was ‘almost broken’ after surgery which left him with impaired vision.