Badminton no.1 Kenta Momota injured, driver killed in Malaysia crash

Badminton men's singles world champion and world number one Kento Momota is in stable condition in hospital after he was among four injured in a highway crash that killed their van driver early Monday morning in Malaysia.

Malaysia's Bernama News Agency reported that their van was on its way to Kuala Lumpur International Airport after Momota had won the Malaysia Masters title when it crashed into the rear of a 30-tonne truck at about 4.40 am local time.

Driver Bavan Nageswarau died at the scene while Momota suffered a broken nose and facial injuries.

Three others in the van who sustained slight injuries were identified as British badminton technical officer Foster William Thomas, Japanese physiotherapist Yu Hirayama Yu and assistant coach Arkifuki Morimoto.

(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)