Cheah Liek Hou can be touted as one of the most in-form shuttlers in world badminton at present after extending his winning streak to 31 matches with his recent Spanish Para Badminton International victory.
But the multiple world champion para shuttler, also a serial winner at the Asian Para Games, would trade his plethora of medals for one at the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics (August 24-September 5).
Cheah has a fantastic opportunity to capture gold at the Paralympics, with para-badminton to be introduced for the first time at the Tokyo spectacle.
“I have waited 18-yeards for this moment. I am ecstatic that para-badminton is finally at the Paralympics. It was a challenging journey to get the sport in, because it had to be played across four major continents [Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa] for it to be proposed.
“The fact that para-badminton is now a global sport has made this happen,” Cheah tells Stadium Astro, speaking from his quarantine hotel in Kuala Lumpur after a 14-hour return journey from Europe following his title success.
In 2014, the International Paralympic Committee confirmed para-badminton as part of the Tokyo Paralympics, coming a long way since the first World Para Championships was held in 1998.
Cheah will head into the event as one of the hot favourites to bring home Malaysia’s first ever medal.
The world number two has been successful since 2019, winning titles at the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Japan, Brazil and Peru before his latest success in Spain.
The category he competes in, SU5 (Standing upper 5, upper body impairments), is also one of the toughest in para-badminton.
“It’s for players having the most minor disability. We are playing actual court size, and the level of badminton is also the highest. This is because most players can jump smash, besides having good skills and movements,” he explained.
Cheah’s impairment is on his right shoulder, which is weaker than the other side. As a result, he can’t lift that arm above his shoulder.
Despite being born with the impairment, the 33-year-old played able-bodied badminton well into his teens, even going as far to represent Kuala Lumpur, when he was under the tutelage of Nova Armada, assistant to Datuk Rashid Sidek.
“When the National Sports Council saw my progress under Nova, they invited Rashid to join the programme for the Paralympics and ever since I have been training under him,” said Cheah.
Training under the Malaysian great for the last three years meant also being in the same group as other able-bodied shuttlers, including juniors and professionals.
“There are a lot of things to change when you train with able-bodied players, including skills and footwork to increase intensity for singles,” he said.
With less than 100 days left for the Paralympics, Cheah is hoping the Games will go ahead despite the shroud of uncertainty due to the pandemic.
“I am desperate to play, especially since para-badminton is in for the first time. So are thousands of athletes, who have trained and worked all their lives for this moment.
“I hope the organisers will do their best to make this event as safe as possible, and also the athletes by adhering to the safety protocols.
“This is a great opportunity for me to win a medal, regardless of what colour. But I have set a target to make the final. It’s do-or-die for me to play in this Games, as I am already in my 30s,” he added.
Once his 14-day quarantine is complete, Cheah will nurse a minor muscle tear on his right leg before resuming training with one unwavering mission: to make history for Malaysia in Tokyo.