THE BA of Malaysia (BAM) will ensure this morning’s accident victims get the best treatment as news of an accident involving world No. 1 Kento Momota this morning shocked badminton fans.
A van, ferrying Momota and three officials, driven by N. Bavan, 24, was on its way to the KL International Airport when it collided with a lorry at KM13.7 of the Maju Expressway near Serdang.
Bavan died in the 4.45am incident while Momota and three others – Japanese team officials Hirayama Yu and Morimoto Arkifuki and British official William Thomas – escaped with light injuries.
The survivors are being treated at the Putrajaya Hospital.
“All four, including Momota, are stable. We have to thank the doctors and medical team at Putrajaya Hospital for their good work,” said BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh.
“We will help the victims in every way possible and ensure they get the best treatment.”
Goh said the police was investigating the accident and that the van driver was from an outsourced transport company.
“We have been working with this transport company for years.
“Momota and the officials were on their way to the airport as the Japanese team were scheduled to catch a morning flight to Tokyo while the British official was to fly to Jakarta for the 2020 Indonesia Masters which starts tomorrow.”
Momota, 25, defeated Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the Perodua Malaysian Masters final yesterday.
Separately, BAM issued a statement saying it was saddened by the accident. It also released details of the injuries.
Momota suffered multiple laceration wounds to his face, right maxillary sinus and nasal bone fracture.
As for the assistant coach Yu he has a laceration wound on his right shin, physio Akifumi had a cerebral concussion and a closed fracture while Hawkeye system operator Thomas has a laceration wound on his forehead and lower limbs. All are in stable condition.
Goh added: “The doctors are monitoring Momota and the others. They should be heading to their destinations soon.”
