He will play China’s Shi Yuqi in Sunday’s Nanjing showpiece, which promises to be a thrilling showdown between two of badminton’s rising stars.

The 23-year-old Momota’s highly promising career hit a major roadblock in 2016 when Japanese badminton chiefs suspended him for more than a year for visiting an illicit casino, denying him a place at the Rio Olympics.

Momota has been working his way back to the top of badminton ever since and the world-ranked seven is currently in the form of his life.

He faced a dangerous challenge in his Nanjing semi-final from Liew Daren, the unseeded Malaysian who had been an unlikely giant-killer.

Liew surged into a 5-0 lead in the first game but the explosive Momota woke up to seize the initiative — and ultimately the match — in style, 21-16, 21-5.

Shi comfortably beat Chen Long to race into the final and confirm his newfound status as China’s best player.

The 22-year-old defeated Chinese legend Lin Dan on the way to the last four and has now claimed the scalp of Olympic champion Chen, who was chasing a third world title.

The brilliantly agile Shi taught Chen, 29, something of a lesson with a comprehensive 21-11, 21-17 victory.

Shi has a long way to go to emulate his more seasoned compatriots, but defeating Chen for just the second time was more evidence of a changing of the guard in Chinese men’s badminton.

He beat the 34-year-old Lin to win the prestigious All England Open in March, but the world title would be the biggest achievement of his fast-rising career.