KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian coach Nova Armada, who guided Cheah Liek Hou to his second Paralympic gold in Paris on Monday, believes the shuttler can remain competitive through the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
Nova has mapped out an ambitious plan for his athletes, including Fareez Anuar, centred on two pivotal events — the 2026 World Championships in Bahrain and the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya.
These competitions are vital to Nova's long-term strategy for Malaysia to defend the men's singles SU5 (upper limb impairment) title at LA 2028, potentially through Liek Hou or Fareez, who would be 40 and 32, respectively.
Nova's confidence in Liek Hou is well-founded, as the veteran player continues to outperform his younger rivals, defying age expectations.
In Paris, Liek Hou defeated his Indonesian arch-rivals Dheva Anrimusthi, 25, and Suryo Nugroho, 29, in straight games during the semi-finals and final, successfully defending his gold medal without dropping a single game throughout the Paralympics.
"Liek Hou's commitment to training and his desire are beyond question," said Nova.
"He's exemplary in his discipline and respect for coaches and teammates. We'll continue supporting Liek Hou as long as he wishes to compete.
"Our sights are set on gold at the Para World Championships, Asian Para Games, and ultimately LA 2028."
Fareez has emerged as a promising successor should Liek Hou opt out of a third Paralympic appearance. Despite narrowly missing bronze against Dheva in his debut, Fareez's group stage victory over the same opponent underlines his potential.
Guiding Fareez to a top-four finish in Paris was particularly satisfying for Nova, especially after missing the Olympics with women's singles player Goh Jin Wei due to limited accreditation.
"Fareez's progress is remarkable," said Nova.
"In just 18 months, he's made impressive strides. Reaching the semi-finals is a significant achievement in itself."
Both para-shuttlers benefit from Nova's Cheras-based Sports Affairs club, where they train alongside able-bodied players.
"Liek Hou and Fareez engage in high-quality sparring sessions here," Nova explained.
"Our team includes former national players like Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, two-time national champion Lim Chi Wing, and Sukma silver medallist Faiz Rozain, as well as international professionals from Indonesia and Sri Lanka."