Paris 2024: Hou About That As Cheah Continues Winning Run To Top Group

From Amiril Muttaqien Meketar

PARIS, Aug 31 (Bernama) -- Just like Muhammad Fareez Anuar, national badminton para star Cheah Liek Hou is enjoying a sublime run as he triumphed against Suryo Nugroho to top Group A at the 2024 Paris Paralympics here today.

In the men’s singles SU5 (physical impairment) tie at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Liek Hou, who won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 edition, continued his excellent form by dispatching the Indonesian 21-10, 21-13 in just 31 minutes.

The world number one shuttler opened his Paris 2024 campaign with a convincing 21-10, 21-6 win over Poland’s Mroz Bartlomiej on Thursday (Aug 29).

He followed it up with another impressive win, disposing of home shuttler Meril Loquette 21-10, 21-16 yesterday.

Speaking to the Malaysian media after the match, Liek Hou felt that Suryo did not give his all, probably because the Indonesian had already secured a place in the semi-finals as the Group A runner-up.

“I feel like there was no point for him to go all out. He seemed so relaxed,” he said.

Earlier, Muhammad Fareez maintained his unbeaten run in Paris 2024 after defeating Japan’s Taiyo Imai 17-21, 21-17, 21-17 in the final Group B fixture.

On Thursday (Aug 29), world number four Muhammad Fareez stunned second-seeded Jen-Yu 21-14, 21-18 before overcoming Anrimusthi, the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games champion, 14-21, 21-19, 21-19 yesterday.

Anrimusthi also moved into the semi-finals after outplaying Jen-Yu 21-14, 21-18 to finish second in Group B.

-- BERNAMA