Badminton Asia Championships: Momota overcomes Shi Yuqi in thriller

Kento Momota lost the first game 21-12, but roared back in the second and third games to secure the title.

Kento Momota came from a game down to beat his Chinese opponent.

Japan's world number one Kento Momota roared back from a game down to defeat Shi Yuqi of China and retain his Badminton Asia Championships title on Sunday.

In a repeat match of last year's World Championships final, second-ranked Shi powered into a 6-0 lead in the first game.

Momota -- who beat Shi to win the world title -- briefly drew level, before the 23-year-old Chinese took the opening game 21-12.

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The 24-year-old Momota appeared to lack his explosive best and was behind early in the second game too, before forcing level at 11-11.

The Japanese top seed then belatedly found his rhythm and sealed the second game 21-18 with a delicious smash.

The momentum was all with Momota now and he clinched the title in 69 minutes by easily winning the third game 21-8 against a badly deflated Shi.