KUALA LUMPUR: Para badminton coach Nova Armada is pleased with his charges, Cheah Liek Hou and Fareez Anuar, for their positive start at the Paris Paralympics yesterday.
Defending champion Liek Hou kicked off his Paralympic gold medal defence in the men's singles SU5 event by defeating Poland's Bartlomiej Mroz 21-10, 21-6 in his Group A opener at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena.
Meanwhile, Fareez Anuar pulled off an upset by upstaging second seed Fang Jen Yu of Taiwan in his Group B opener, 21-14, 21-18.
Fareez had lost to Jen Yu in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, the 2024 Pattaya Para-Badminton World Championships, and the Group Stage of the 2024 Scotland Four Nations Para Badminton International Championship.
Nova said he expected Liek Hou to have no problem beating his Polish opponent, and Fareez brightened his chances of progressing into the semi-finals with the sensational win.
"Liek Hou was expected to win on paper over the Polish player. The match went according to our plans," said the Indonesian coach.
"Fareez's win over Fang is unexpected. He had lost consecutively to Fang in the Para Asian Games, World Championships, and the Four Nations in Scotland; they were all narrow defeats."
"We learned from those matches and improved. Fareez could get his rhythm in the match and won in straight games."
The duo will now focus on their second group matches, with Fareez taking on Indonesian hotshot Dheva Anrimusthi tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Liek Hou will take on Meril Loquette of France in his second Group A match tomorrow.