KUALA LUMPUR — Badminton world number one Kento Momota was injured in a pre-dawn vehicle collision in Malaysia on Monday (Jan 13), just hours after he secured his first victory of the season at the Malaysia Masters.

The Japanese shuttler, 25, was with three other passengers en-route to the administrative capital of Putrajaya when the hired van they were in rammed into the rear of a 30-tonne truck, the local fire and rescue department said in a brief statement.

According to the New Straits Times (NST), van driver Bavan a/l Nageswarau, 24, was killed on the spot in the 4.45am accident.

Momota suffered a broken nose and lacerations to his lips and face, reported NST.

The three other passengers are British badminton technical officer Foster William Thomas, 30, Japanese physiotherapist Hirayama Yu, 35, and Japanese assistant coach Morimoto Arkifuki, 42. All three suffered injuries to their faces and legs, NST reported.

The fire and rescue department said it was still working to extricate the driver's body from the wreckage.

Momota and the other passengers had been sent to Putrajaya Hospital for treatment, the department added.

On Sunday, Momota defeated former world champion Viktor Axelsen to win the Malaysia Masters, the first tournament of the BWF 2020 World Tour season. REUTERS