Just Hou great he is!
Shuttler wins his 11th para world title in South Korea
PETALING JAYA: Cheah Liek Hou continued to show that he’s one of the most successful Malaysian shuttlers as he successfully defended the men’s singles title at the BWF-Para World Championships.
The 29-year-old edged Suryo Nugroho of Indonesia 19-21, 21-15, 21-18 in a 50-minute final of the SU5 (impairment in upper body) for his sixth men’s singles title at the Dongchun Gymnasium in Ulsan, South Korea, yesterday.
Liek Hou now has 11 world titles – including five in the men’s doubles – since the tournament’s inception in 1998.
He is the sixth Malaysian world champion this year after track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, diver Cheong Jun Hoong, wushu exponent Wong Weng Son and para athletes Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly.
“I beat Suryo in the final at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games (in September) but he didn’t make it any easier for me today. I was lucky towards the end to pull away for a win,” said Liek Hou, who was born with Erb’s palsy (where the nerves of his upper arm were damaged during delivery).
Liek Hou, however, failed to make it a double joy when he lost in the men’s doubles with Hairol Fozi Saaba.
The defending champions put up a good fight but lost 21-18, 21-23, 18-21 to scratch pair Suryo and Tay Wei Ming of Singapore
I was lucky towards the end to pull away for a win. Cheah Liek Hou
in 43 minutes.
“We failed to retain our doubles title because we lacked a good defence. Our opponents were in better conditions and attacked aggressively. We need to sharpen our skills in both our attacking and defensive game,” said Liek Hou.
The elite-only Podium Programme shuttler’s main goal next year is to win a medal at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta.
“The Indonesians did well at the World Championships. They’ll be the main challengers at the Asian Para Games. I’ll have to double up my effort to stay ahead of them,” said Liek Hou.
Besides the gold and silver, Malaysia also bagged three bronzes through Bakri Omar (men’s singles SL3), Madzlan Saibon (men’s singles WH2 - impairment in both limbs) and Didin Taresoh (men’s singles SS6 short stature).