Wuhan, China, October 31, 2026: Former world No. 1 Kento Momota has advanced to the men’s singles quarterfinals of the 2026 Wuhan Lin Dan Cup, joining five-time champion Zhao Junpeng and six other contenders in a tournament that brings together former international stars, experienced Chinese players and leading competitors from China’s domestic badminton circuit.
The Japanese badminton star is among eight players remaining in contention at Hongshan Gymnasium, where the men’s singles competition runs from October 30 to November 1.
Alongside Momota and Zhao, the quarterfinal lineup features Chen Wenjie, Liu Zeqing, Gao Boshuai, Wang Zhengxing, Li Yunze and Liu Liang.
For Momota, a two-time world champion who stepped away from international competition in 2024, the tournament offers another opportunity to compete against strong opposition outside the BWF World Tour.
Kento Momota Returns to Competitive Action at Wuhan Lin Dan Cup
Momota’s participation has attracted considerable attention from Chinese badminton fans, many of whom remember his dominance of international men’s singles during his years at the top of the world rankings.
The Japanese star won consecutive world championships in 2018 and 2019 and established himself as one of the most successful men’s singles players of his generation.
Although he no longer competes regularly on the international circuit, Momota continues to participate in selected badminton events.
His appearance in Wuhan brings an internationally recognized name into a competition featuring former Chinese national team players and accomplished domestic competitors.
Watch: Kento Momota vs. Ye Zhouyang – 2026 Wuhan Lin Dan Cup
One of Momota’s early opponents was China’s Ye Zhouyang, a former Hunan Provincial Games men’s singles champion who has also won the Chen Long Cup.
Video source: 葡萄羽球
Momota Defeats Three-Time Lin Dan Cup Champion Zhou Zeqi
Another notable test came against China’s Zhou Zeqi, a former national team player and three-time Lin Dan Cup champion.
Momota defeated Zhou 31-20 in the round of 32 on October 31, advancing to the last 16 against an opponent with an established record in the competition.
Zhou had recently added another Lin Dan Cup title to his record by winning the Jinan tournament earlier in October.
The result demonstrated that Momota remains capable of competing successfully against experienced players familiar with the tournament’s distinctive scoring system.
Watch: Kento Momota vs. Zhou Zeqi – 2026 Wuhan Lin Dan Cup
Video source: 葡萄羽球
Kento Momota Faces Strong Chinese Opposition
Momota’s Wuhan campaign has also included a meeting with Wang Yifan, a Chinese player associated with the Sichuan provincial badminton team.
The match provides another example of the competitive field assembled for the event, where established international names encounter players with experience in China’s domestic badminton system.
Watch: Kento Momota vs. Wang Yifan – 2026 Wuhan Lin Dan Cup
Video source: 葡萄羽球
Five-Time Champion Zhao Junpeng Among Leading Title Contenders
While Momota’s appearance has generated international interest, China’s Zhao Junpeng enters the closing stages as another prominent contender.
A former Chinese national team player, Zhao has established an impressive record in the Lin Dan Cup, winning five titles across previous editions.
His experience makes him one of the players to watch as the tournament approaches its final stages.
Wang Zhengxing and Liu Liang also bring valuable experience from China’s competitive badminton circuit, while Chen Wenjie has emerged as another contender following success in domestic competition.
Meanwhile, Liu Zeqing, Gao Boshuai and Li Yunze represent the depth of talent competing outside the regular international tour.
The quarterfinal lineup highlights the Lin Dan Cup’s appeal: accomplished players with different competitive backgrounds can meet in the same draw.
How the Lin Dan Cup’s 31-Point Format Changes the Competition
Unlike the standard BWF World Tour format, which uses best-of-three games to 21 points, the Wuhan Lin Dan Cup employs a single-game, 31-point format for most men’s singles knockout rounds.
This creates a different competitive challenge for players accustomed to international tournaments.
With no second game available to recover from a slow start, competitors must manage the entire contest within a single scoring sequence.
The shorter match format also means that a decisive run of points can have a greater impact on the outcome.
For Momota, Zhao and the other quarterfinalists, adapting to the format will be an important part of their pursuit of the title.
Lin Dan Cup Brings Professional and Amateur Badminton Together
Established by Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan, the Lin Dan Cup has developed into an open competition that attracts players from different levels of the sport.
The 2026 Wuhan edition features men’s singles, mixed team competitions, university team events and junior categories.
According to the tournament’s published regulations, the men’s singles competition takes place at Hongshan Gymnasium from October 30 to November 1.
The Wuhan event offers a total prize fund of RMB 863,000 across its competitions, including RMB 200,000 for the men’s singles champion.
Those incentives, combined with the opportunity to face former international stars, have helped make the tournament an attractive destination for competitive badminton players.
For spectators, the presence of Momota alongside established Chinese competitors adds another dimension to the event.
Can Kento Momota Win the 2026 Wuhan Lin Dan Cup?
With eight players remaining, Momota faces a demanding challenge if he hopes to add another title to his career achievements.
Zhao Junpeng’s extensive experience in the competition makes him a significant contender, while Wang Zhengxing, Liu Liang and the other quarterfinalists have their own ambitions.
For Momota, reaching the last eight is already a notable result in his first Wuhan Lin Dan Cup campaign.
Whether the former world champion can advance further will be one of the central storylines as the tournament moves toward its November 1 conclusion.
2026 Wuhan Lin Dan Cup Men’s Singles Quarterfinalists
Kento Momota (Japan)
Zhao Junpeng (China)
Chen Wenjie (China)
Liu Zeqing (China)
Gao Boshuai (China)
Wang Zhengxing (China)
Li Yunze (China)
Liu Liang (China)
Complete Tournament Results
Men’s Singles – Round of 32
Kento Momota (Japan) defeated Zhou Zeqi (China), 31-20.
Note: The supplied material also identifies matches involving Ye Zhouyang and Wang Yifan, but does not provide verified final scores for those encounters. They are therefore excluded from the completed-results list.