Written by Afifah Adi
Edited by Izyan Nazihah
Cheah Liek Hou wins gold medal in Paris men’s para-badminton | Source: The Star
PARIS, 6th September 2024: Malaysia rejoices as Cheah Liek Hou won the country’s first gold medal in the men's singles SU5 (upper body impairment) of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Badminton. The 36-year-old athlete secured first place after the final match against Suryo Nugroho of Indonesia last Monday (2nd September) at Porte de la Chapelle Arena.
The court witnessed Liek Hou’s gaining a powerful start as he smoothly won the first set with a score of 21-13 against his opponent. His unwavering persistence paid off in the second set, which ended 21-15, erupting cheers from the audience throughout the arena. The match lasted 41 minutes, marking a decisive victory for the eight-time world champion athlete.
This tremendous achievement further demonstrates Liek Hou’s continued excellence and strong performance, especially after successfully defending his gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Liek Hou joyously celebrated his success by hugging his coach, Nova Armada, before proudly parading the Malaysia flag around the court.
A day earlier, Liek Hou battled in the semi-finals against another reputable shuttler, Dheva Anrimusthi of Indonesia, who has been dubbed his arch-rival since their face-off in several previous Paralympic games. The Malaysian athlete progressed to the final after beating Dheva with a straight set of 21-17, 21-17.
Cheah Liek Hou waving around the Malaysia flag at the venue | Credit: Malay Mail
Following Liek Hou’s victory, the occasion was made even more memorable as Malaysia’s national anthem, Negaraku, was played in the Paralympics Game for the first time in France. It also resonated deeply with the nation, as Malaysia had just celebrated its Independence Day three days prior. —TBC
Cheah Liek Hou paying respect as Negaraku was playing in the Paralympics Game | Credit: jasonyew_ / YouTube
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