Hurrah! National Paralympian Cheah Liek Hou Bags 11th Title at Dublin

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s top para shuttler Cheah Liek Hou has won his 11th title after winning the 4 Nations Para Badminton International 2022 in Dublin, Ireland, on Sunday (July 17).

Cheah Liek Hou, who played in the SU5 (physical impairment) category, took only 39 minutes to crush his Japanese opponent Taiyo Imai 21-17, 21-16 in the final.

The reigning Paralympic champion also secured his second title in the tournament with his partner Muhamad Faris Ahmad Azri after topping the group in the men’s doubles event.

The duo beat France’s Gullaume Gailly-Mathieu Thomas 21-9, 21-10 in the first match, and maintained their winning streak by defeating India’s Nilesh Balu Gaiwad-Manoj Sarkar 21-6, 21-16.

Their final opponents were India’s Chirag Baretha-Hardik Makkar, whom they defeated with a 21-19, 21-17 score.

However, Liek Hou isn’t letting this win in Ireland carry him away as he sets his eyes on giving his best at the 11th ASEAN Para Games (APG) in in Solo (Surakarta), Indonesia from July 30 to Aug 6.

I will fly to Solo on July 26, I feel that meet (the APG) will be a big challenge because Indonesia’s Dheva Anrimusthi whom I was up against in the Tokyo Paralympics final last year will also be competing.

“As they are the hosts it will be a challenge for me to win in their country and I also hope there will be no injuries before we (team) go to and when we are in Indonesia,” he told Bernama.

At the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, Liek Hou made history by being the first Malaysian player to win gold in the men’s singles SU5 category after defeating Dheva 21-17, 21-15.

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Cover image via Sukanz and Facebook/Badminton Association of Malaysia – BAM.