Liek Hou Aims To Maintain Unbeaten Streak In 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Two-time Paralympic badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou is determined to end the year on a high note, by maintaining his unbeaten streak throughout 2024.

The 36-year-old, who won every match he played this year to claim five titles including at the Paris Paralympics, will wrap up the season after the Bahrain Para Badminton International in Manama from Dec 11-15.

Liek Hou’s last defeat was nearly a year ago against compatriot Muhammad Fareez Anuar in the SU5 men’s singles finals at the Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International, last December. 

“At my age now, I don’t feel any pressure but all I want is to enjoy the moment and keep creating history and new records for myself. What I am always telling myself is ‘if you win one competition, you can win more and more.’

“So better to create more positive results than keep thinking about pressure. Last year I won in Bahrain, but that was level 2, this is the first time they’re hosting a level 1 tournament, so can expect tough challenge from the world’s top players,” said Liek Hou, who won a record eighth Para World Championship title in February. 

Liek Hou, who bagged gold in 2020 Tokyo (held in 2021) and 2024 Paris Paralympics, said he is planning to take part in about eight tournaments in 2025, but his next major goal will the 2026 World Championship in Bahrain and Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in Japan.

"I will target tournaments until the 2026 Para Asian Games. Then I will see if my condition allows me to continue competing or not... If I can still challenge, strong and healthy, I will continue," he added.

Meanwhile, national men’s doubles shuttler Soh Wooi Yik said he is steadily working his way back to top form after suffering a right toe fracture during the Paris Olympics in August.

Wooi Yik, whose next tournament is the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China from Dec 11-15, hopes to fare well in the season finale after forced to miss four tournaments due to the injury. 

“I am fully recovered but at this moment still in conditioning, building back my strength as reaching back the peak level is not easy, takes a few months. Hope the fans will give us some time to be back to our best form,” he added. 

Earlier, Liek Hou received a RM10,000 incentive from the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA) at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia for his gold medal feat in Paralympics, while his coach Nova Armada gained RM2,000.

Wooi Yik received RM5,000 for defending the Olympic bronze medal with his partner Aaron Chia, while coach Hoon Thien How was awarded RM2,000 for guiding national women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah into the semi-finals in Paris. 

Both Liek Hou and Wooi Yik also received solar panels sponsored by Solaroo in the ceremony held in conjunction with KLBA’s annual general meeting.

KLBA president Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen YM Mohamed Yunoos hopes their success would inspire more young players to achieve new legacies, and also pledged that KLBA would continue their grassroots programmes to create new champions. 

-- BERNAMA