Three-title target set for national para shuttlers at World Championships

PETALING JAYA: The national para shuttlers have been told to bring back three titles from the BWF Para Badminton World Championships in Ulsan, South Korea, from Nov 21-26.

National para badminton coach Moe Chin Kiat described it as “a realistic target” because of his confidence in his five Podium Programme shuttlers – Bakri Omar (singles SL4), Cheah Liek Hou ( singles SU5), Hairulfozi Saaba ( doubles SU5), Madzlan Saibon (singles WH2) and Didin Terasoh (singles SS6).

“We’re only sending five Podium Programme athletes because the National Sports Council (NSC) do not have the funding to send more,” said Chin Kiat, who is fondly known as Ciku.

The Podium Programme athletes were Malaysia’s main medal contributors at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August.

Except for Bakri, all the others won a gold medal.

Their main challengers at the world meet will be the para shuttlers from Indonesia, Poland, England, South Korea and Thailand.

“Our shuttlers have prepared well.

“We won three gold medals at the last world meet and we’re hoping that the squad can repeat the feat,” said Chin Kiat.

At the last world meet in Stoke Mandeville, England, in 2015, Malaysia’s world champions were Liek Hou (singles SU5), Liek HouHairulfozi ( doubles SU5) and Didin (singles SS6).