Dubai: Malaysia’s World No. 2 Cheah Liek Hou has advanced to the SU5 (impairment in the upper body) men’s singles final of 2021 Dubai Para-Badminton International on Saturday.
Cheah was able to overcome his arch-rival – World No. 3 Suryo Nugroho of Indonesia in the semi-finals with 21-18, 21-16. The Malaysian held a 5-2 career meeting advantage over Nugroho after Saturday’s victory. Before Dubai, Cheah has defeated Nugroho in their last three meetings in 2019 – in Brazil, Japan, and Denmark.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Dheva Anrimusthi of Indonesia outlasted Bartłomiej Mroz of Poland 21-14, 21-11 to enter the final.
Anrimusthi will be a tough opponent for Cheah as the Indonesian held a 5-2 career meeting lead over Cheah in the singles event. They last met at the 2020 Brazil Para-Badminton International, where Cheah survived a tough challenge, rallying past Anrimusthi 21-15, 10-21, 21-16.
Also in the final were Muhammad Ikhwan Ramli and Noor Azwan Noorlan. Ramli will face David Toupe of France in the final of WH 1 category (Athletes in this sport class generally have impairment in both lower limbs and trunk. They may also have impaired hand function, impacting their ability to maneuver the wheelchair).
Meanwhile, Noorlan will take on Rick Cornell Hellmann of Germany in the final of the WH2 category (Athletes in this sport class generally have impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal or no impairment of the trunk. You might expect to see athletes with loss of one or two leg(s) above the knee or lower spinal cord injuries).
