Good Progress In Two Years But More Time Needed For Impact On World Stage – Muhammad Fareez

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- The country’s rising para badminton star Muhammad Fareez Anuar still does not seem to believe that he can achieve so much improvement in performance in just two years since leading the country’s challenge in the sport back in 2022.

The 28-year-old said he had set his sights on achieving an impressive level of play within three years but his involvement turned out to be an impact that could formide other world champions in the SU5 men's singles category.

"It feels like a dream, I didn't expect that in two years I would have had various experiences, including the opportunity to compete for the first time at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

"The progress in performance for two years is very fast for me because I expect three years to reach the level of the game now and catch up with other great players," he told Bernama.

Muhammad Fareez said one of the secrets of his achievements today was the effectiveness of the training programme prepared by coach Nova Armada.

He said he was very happy with the approach applied by the Indonesian coach who has a variety of training patterns according to the tournaments and sports games he participated in.

"Sometimes there is a relaxing time, sometimes there is a time when he will push us hard. I like that approach, as an athlete for us to feel less stressed and enjoy," he said.

Not only that, the world number five said the opportunity to train with world number one and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Cheah Liek Hou has also helped him to get to where he is now.

Despite making it to the semi-finals with an energetic performance at the Paralympics, Muhammad Fareez admits that sometimes he still can't completely forget his failure to bring home a medal from the world's prestigious sporting event.

"Until now still thinking about the Paris action, feel sad for not bringing home a medal. It is difficult to move on," he said.

Muhammad Fareez's dream of a medal was dashed after losing to Indonesia's Dheva Anrimusthi, 21-17, 19-21, 12-21 in the SU5 men's singles bronze medal match at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena last September.

He had earlier shown his prowess by winning Group B, including shocking second seed Fang Jen-Yu of Taiwan, with a 21-14, 21-18 straight sets victory.

At the same time, he was also aggrieved that he could not close the 2024 campaign more gloriously when he fell to Dheva 15-21, 17-21 in the final of the 2024 International Bahrain Para Badminton Championships in Manama, Bahrain, recently.

However, the player from Johor continued to excel with Liek Hou when they topped the SU5 men's doubles competition in the same tournament by coming back to defeat the Indonesian pair represented by Dheva and Hafizh Briliansyah Prawiranegara, 13-21, 21-17, 21-16.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Fareez has a mission to penetrate the top three best players in the world next year and added that he was currently undergoing training and is scheduled to return to the court during two tournaments in Spain next March, namely the 2025 Spanish Para Badminton Championships I and II.

-- BERNAMA