Smashing news for para-athlete Liek Hou
Liek Hou can now resume his quest for a badminton gold at the Paralympics.
He and his coach Rashid Sidek have been granted permission by the government to train at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Jalil beginning June 1.
Liek Hou and Rashid received the offer letter from the National Sports Council (NSC) to join the one-month training camp from June 1-30 for the shuttlers under the Road to Tokyo (RTT) programme.
For 32-year-old Liek Hou, who will start court training again after almost three months, it is a memorable return to BAM after 14 years.
Previously, he was attached to the national junior team until he was 18 years old before leaving BAM.
Liek Hou later focused on the Paralympics where he is one of the favourites for gold in the SU5 (standing/upper limb impairment) category in Tokyo next year.
“It is a good kickstart for me to prepare for the 2021 Paralympics after not being able undergo proper training for almost three months,” he said.
“It feels good to return to train at BAM after 14 years. But this will be a new experience training at the new centre (ABM).
“I have accepted the offer to train at ABM and I will be following the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) at the camp. I will be training under Rashid.
“There will be no tournaments for me this year but the camp will be very beneficial for me to start my preparations for the Paralympics.”
Liek Hou was previously training at a private academy, the Sports Affairs, and it looks like ABM could become his new home until the Paralympics.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh said: “Liek Hou is one of the players shortlisted for the one-month programme under RTT and he will start training with the rest on June 1.”
At the Paralympics in Tokyo, Liek Hou, who receives NSC funding, will have to contend with Indonesia’s world champion Dheva Andrimusthi for the SU5 gold.
However, Liek Hou has shown his prowess by beating Dheva in straight games to win the Brazil Para International title in February before the Covid-19 outbreak forced the Paralympics to be postponed to next year.