Tokyo Paralympics: Liek Hou opens account with big win

Malaysian para-shuttler Cheah Liek Hou barely broke sweat after he strode to a 21-3, 21-2 victory over Egypt’s Ahmed Eldakrory in his opening Group B match of the men’s singles standing upper 5 (SU5) category on Wednesday.

The 15-minute triumph put the world number two in top spot in his group with a healthy point advantage ahead of his second group encounter against Chinese Taipei’s Fang Jen-Yu on Thursday.

RESULTS: #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics Group B#MAS Cheah Liek Hou def. #EGY Eldakrory 21-3 21-2#DemiMalaysia#BadmintonMalaysia pic.twitter.com/xbTSx9XtTH

— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) September 1, 2021

Prior to this match, Cheah and team-mate Didin Taresoh had limited time to test out the actual courts.

But the Malaysian proved lethal once the event commenced, and he would be looking for a second consecutive victory on Thursday.

“I expected today to be a straightforward victory. But tomorrow match will be tougher so I will get enough rest and be ready for that,” he told Stadium Astro after the win.

Cheah is gunning to become the country’s first para-shuttler to deliver gold at the Paralympics, with the sport making its debut in Tokyo.

The 33-year-old came into the Paralympic Games with a winning streak going back to 2019.

His biggest rival for the golden glitter would be Indonesia’s world number one Dheva Anrimushti, who currently tops Group A.