NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Jan 25 — National para badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou settled for silver after losing to Indonesia’s Dheva Anrimusthi in the SU5 men’s singles final at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games (APG) today.
In the 47-minute match, he was unable to sustain his momentum and went down in straight sets, 19-21, 15-21.
Cheah said the defeat was largely due to a slow physical recovery throughout the tournament, resulting from the tightly packed competition schedule.
“My body was very sore, and recovery was slow. In badminton, we compete over five to six consecutive days, so when sleep is insufficient and recovery is not at its best, it will inevitably affect performance in crucial matches,” he said.
However, Cheah said the result was a part and parcel of competitive sport, and that he is now fully focused on the upcoming 2026 Para Badminton World Championships in Bahrain from February 7 to February 14.
He added that this was his sixth or seventh appearance at the APG, having previously captured five titles, with his most recent victory being in Solo, Indonesia, in 2022.
Meanwhile, Cheah also added another silver medal to Malaysia’s tally after partnering Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri in the SU5 men’s doubles event. However, the national pair went down to Indonesia’s Dheva Anrimusthi and Hafizh Briliansyah in straight sets, 15-21, 11-21.
