Cheah Liek Hou
Malaysian para-badminton player (born 1988)
Badminton player
Cheah Liek Hou (Chinese : 谢儮好[ 1] ; pinyin : Xiè Lìhǎo ; born 8 March 1988) is a Malaysian para-badminton player.[ 2] He is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist and a 14-time World champion at both SU5 singles and doubles events.[ 3] He won the gold medal in the men's singles SU5 event at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics , making him the first Malaysian athlete to win a medal in para-badminton. He is the first-ever Paralympic champion in para-badminton.
Early life
Cheah was born with Erb's palsy , which causes his right hand to have less strength and stability. He took up badminton when he was nine. He later competed against able-bodied badminton players and joined the able-bodied squad when he was 12 years old.[ 4] He completed his pre-university education in Bukit Jalil Sports School .[ 5] He competed in both able-bodied and para-badminton tournaments before exclusively competing in the latter upon obtaining his degree.[ 6]
Personal life
Cheah is married to Dewi Febriana Tan.[ 7] He has a degree in corporate communications awarded by Universiti Putra Malaysia .[ 6]
Achievements
Paralympic Games
Men's singles SU5
World Championships
Men's singles SU5
Year
Venue
Opponent
Score
Result
2005
Hsinchu Municipal Gymnasium, Hsinchu , Taiwan
Eyal Bachar
2–0
Gold
2007
Gymnasium 1, Bangkok , Thailand
Juan Bretones
21–11, 21–13
Gold
2011
Coliseo Deportivo, Guatemala City , Guatemala
İlker Tuzcu
21–11, 21–19
Gold
2013
Helmut-Körnig-Halle, Dortmund , Germany
Bartłomiej Mróz
21–18, 21–13
Gold
2015
Stoke Mandeville Stadium , Stoke Mandeville, England
Bartłomiej Mróz
21–16, 21–12
Gold
2017
Dongchun Gymnasium , Ulsan , South Korea
Suryo Nugroho
19–21, 21–15, 21–18
Gold
2019
St. Jakobshalle , Basel , Switzerland
Dheva Anrimusthi
13–21, 8–21
Bronze
2022
Yoyogi National Gymnasium , Tokyo , Japan
Dheva Anrimusthi
21–14, 21–12
Gold
2024
Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, Pattaya , Thailand
Dheva Anrimusthi
21–15, 16–21, 21–15
Gold
Men's doubles SU5
Year
Venue
Partner
Opponent
Score
Result
2005
Hsinchu Municipal Gymnasium,Hsinchu , Taiwan
Razali Jaafar
Chang Cheng-cheng Lee Meng-yuan
2–0
Gold
2007
Gymnasium 1, Bangkok, Thailand
Suhaili Laiman
Rakesh Pandey Raj Kumar
21–4, 21–10
Gold
2011
Coliseo Deportivo, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Suhaili Laiman
Kohei Obara Gen Shogaki
21–14, 20–22, 21–12
Gold
2013
Helmut-Körnig-Halle, Dortmund, Germany
Suhaili Laiman
Bartłomiej Mróz İlker Tuzcu
21–18, 21–17
Gold
2015
Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Stoke Mandeville, England
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Bartłomiej Mróz İlker Tuzcu
18–21, 21–13, 21–16
Gold
2017
Dongchun Gymnasium, Ulsan, South Korea
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Suryo Nugroho Tay Wei Ming
21–18, 21–23, 18–21
Silver
2019
St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
Dheva Anrimusthi Hafizh Briliansyah Prawiranegara
13–21, 9–21
Bronze
2022
Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
Dheva Anrimusthi Hafizh Briliansyah Prawiranegara
13–21, 12–21
Silver
2024
Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, Pattaya, Thailand
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Chirag Baretha Raj Kumar
21–17, 21–18
Gold
Asian Para Games
Men's singles SU5
Year
Venue
Opponent
Score
Result
2010
Tianhe Gymnasium , Guangzhou , China
Suryo Nugroho
21–8, 21–10
Gold
2014
Gyeyang Gymnasium , Incheon , South Korea
Oddie Listyanto Putra
21–8, 21–11
Gold
2018
Istora Gelora Bung Karno , Jakarta , Indonesia
Dheva Anrimusthi
21–18, 14–21, 16–21
Gold
2022
Binjiang Gymnasium , Hangzhou , China
Dheva Anrimusthi
21–18, 19–21, 17–21
Silver
Men's doubles SU5
Year
Venue
Partner
Opponent
Score
Result
2010
Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China
Suhaili Laiman
Dwiyoko Ryan Yohwari
21–8, 21–7
Gold
2014
Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea
Suhaili Laiman
Rakesh Pandey Raj Kumar
11–21, 21–11, 21–13
Gold
2018
Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Oddie Listyanto Putra Suryo Nugroho
21–16, 18–21, 17–21
Bronze
2022
Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Dheva Anrimusthi Hafizh Briliansyah Prawiranegara
21–19, 15–21, 12–21
Bronze
Asian Championships
Men's singles SU5
Year
Venue
Opponent
Score
Result
2004
Stadium Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Jeffrey Zee
15–2, 15–6
Gold
2008
Raheja Stadium, Bangalore , India
Gold
2012
Yeoju Sports Center, Yeoju , South Korea
Tay Wei Ming
21–18, 21–8
Gold
2016
China Administration of Sport for Persons with Disabilities, Beijing , China
Suryo Nugroho
13–21, 16–21
Bronze
Men's doubles SU5
Year
Venue
Partner
Opponent
Score
Result
2004
Stadium Titiwangsa,Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Razali Jaafar
Hironobu Kawabata Tetsuo Ura
15–7, 15–6
Gold
2008
Raheja Stadium,Bangalore , India
Suhaili Laiman
Gold
2012
Yeoju Sports Center,Yeoju , South Korea
Suhaili Laiman
Kelvin Pung Tay Wei Ming
21–18, 21–13
Gold
2016
China Administration of Sport for Persons with Disabilities,Beijing , China
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Oddie Listyanto Putra Suryo Nugroho
21–9, 21–15
Gold
ASEAN Para Games
Men's singles SU5
Year
Venue
Opponent
Score
Result
2003
Hanoi Sports Palace, Hanoi , Vietnam
Bronze
2005
PSC Badminton Hall, Manila , Philippines
Gold
2008
Vongchavalitkul University Gymnasium, Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand
Imam Kunantoro
2–0
Gold
2009
Axiata Arena , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Gold
2011
Sritex Sports Arena, Surakarta , Indonesia
Imam Kunantoro
22–20, 21–18
Gold
2015
OCBC Arena , Singapore
Suryo Nugroho
17–21, 19–21
Silver
2017
Axiata Arena , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Suryo Nugroho
21–11, 21–15
Gold
2022
Edutorium Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta , Surakarta , Indonesia
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
21–18, 21–14
Gold
Men's doubles SU5
Year
Venue
Partner
Opponent
Score
Result
2003
Hanoi Sports Palace,Hanoi , Vietnam
Razali Jaafar
Silver
2005
PSC Badminton Hall,Manila , Philippines
Razali Jaafar
Silver
2008 [ a]
Vongchavalitkul University Gymnasium,Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand
Suhaili Laiman
Thiraviasamy Savarinathan Mohd Zambri Yusof
21–15, 23–21
Gold
Imam Kunantoro Pribadi
21–7, 21–13
Somsak Duangchai Ratthasart Thuyweang
21–11, 21–14
Phạm Văn Tài Thân Duy Chi
21–15, 21–11
2009
Axiata Arena ,Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Suhaili Laiman
Gold
2011
Sritex Sports Arena,Surakarta , Indonesia
Suhaili Laiman
Imam Kunantoro Suryo Nugroho
21–13, 23–21
Gold
2015
OCBC Arena, Singapore
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Oddie Listyanto Putra Suryo Nugroho
21–13, 21–6
Gold
2017
Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Oddie Listyanto Putra Suryo Nugroho
21–16, 19–21, 19–21
Bronze
2022
Edutorium Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Oddie Listyanto Putra Suryo Nugroho
19–21, 21–15, 19–21
Bronze
Mixed doubles SL3–SU5
Year
Venue
Partner
Opponent
Score
Result
2008 [ a]
Vongchavalitkul University Gymnasium,Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand
Nor Fariha Kamarudin
Somsak Duangchai Sudsaifon Yodpa
21–7, 25–23
Gold
Nguyễn Văn Tài Đoàn Thị Ngãi
21–14, 21–10
Pribadi Hamida
21–10, 21–11
2009
Axiata Arena ,Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Nor Fariha Kamarudin
Gold
2011 [ a]
Sritex Sports Arena,Surakarta , Indonesia
Norazlin Sulaiman
Dona Wuhyananto Larti
21–13, 21–17
Gold
Narinchort Khowbunyarasri Sudsaifon Yodpa
21–16, 23–21
Phạm Hồng Tuấn Đoàn Thị Ngãi
22–20, 21–12
Somsak Duangchai Wandee Kamtam
21–7, 21–13
BWF Para Badminton World Circuit (27 titles, 2 runners-up)
The BWF Para Badminton World Circuit – Grade 2, Level 1, 2 and 3 tournaments has been sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation from 2022.[ 8]
Men's singles SU5
Year
Tournament
Level
Opponent
Score
Result
2022
Brazil Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Méril Loquette
21–17, 21–17
Winner
2022
Bahrain Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Bartłomiej Mróz
21–7, 21–12
Winner
2022
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Taiyo Imai
21–11, 21–19
Winner
2022
4 Nations Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Taiyo Imai
21–17, 21–16
Winner
2022
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Fang Jen-yu
22–20, 21–15
Winner
2023
Spanish Para-Badminton International II
Level 2
Dheva Anrimusthi
11–21, 21–17, 17–21
Runner-up
2023
Spanish Para-Badminton International I
Level 1
Fang Jen-yu
21–7, 21–13
Winner
2023
Brazil Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
21–19, 21–19
Winner
2023
Bahrain Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Suryo Nugroho
21–13, 21–10
Winner
2023
Canada Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Fang Jen-yu
21–14, 21–13
Winner
2023
4 Nations Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Dheva Anrimusthi
21–18, 21–10
Winner
2023
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
19–21, 19–21
Runner-up
2024
Spanish Para-Badminton International II
Level 2
Fang Jen-yu
21–13, 21–8
Winner
2024
Spanish Para-Badminton International I
Level 1
Fang Jen-yu
21–19, 21–17
Winner
2024
4 Nations Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Fang Jen-yu
21–12, 21–19
Winner
Men's doubles SU5
Year
Tournament
Level
Partner
Opponent
Score
Result
2022
Bahrain Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Chirag Baretha Raj Kumar
21–14, 19–21, 21–7
Winner
2022
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Oddie Listyanto Putra Suryo Nugroho
17–21, 21–15, 21–9
Winner
2022[ a]
4 Nations Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
Guillaume Gailly Mathieu Thomas
21–9, 21–10
Winner
Nilesh Gaikwad Manoj Sarkar
21–6, 21–16
Chirag Baretha Hardik Makkar
21–19, 21–17
2022[ a]
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
Kim Gi-yeon Lee Jeong-soo
21–15, 21–18
Winner
Méril Loquette Lucas Mazur
21–12, 21–16
Pricha Somsiri Chok-Uthaikul Watcharaphon
21–15, 21–13
Fang Jen-yu Pu Gui-yu
21–11, 22–20
2023
Spanish Para-Badminton International II
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Chirag Baretha Raj Kumar
22–20, 21–23, 21–15
Winner
2023
Brazil Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Chirag Baretha Raj Kumar
21–13, 21–18
Winner
2023
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Li Mingpan Shi Shengzhuo
21–15, 22–24, 21–14
Winner
2023
Bahrain Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Chirag Baretha Raj Kumar
21–18, 19–21, 21–14
Winner
2023[ a]
4 Nations Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Jeon Sun-woo Kim Gi-yeon
15–21, 21–11, 21–16
Winner
Robert Donald Sean O'Sullivan
21–14, 21–11
Chirag Baretha Raj Kumar
17–21, 21–10, 21–15
2023[ a]
Western Australia Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Manuel García Pablo Serrano
21–12, 21–10
Winner
Bartłomiej Mróz Sean O'Sullivan
21–9, 21–13
Hardik Makkar Ruthick Ragupathi
21–17, 19–21, 21–16
2023[ a]
Japan Para-Badminton International
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri Amyrul Yazid Ahmad Sibi
21–8, 19–21, 21–17
Winner
Li Mingpan Shi Shengzhuo
21–15, 21–9
Bartłomiej Mróz Tay Wei Ming
21–14, 21–15
Hardik Makkar Ruthick Ragupathi
21–15, 21–17
2023
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Level 1
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Fang Jen-yu Pu Gui-yu
21–1, 21–10
Winner
2024
Spanish Para-Badminton International II
Level 2
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Chirag Baretha Raj Kumar
21–16, 21–19
Winner
2024
Spanish Para-Badminton International I
Level 1
Muhammad Fareez Anuar
Hardik Makkar Ruthick Ragupathi
21–16, 22–20
Winner
International tournaments (from 2011–2021) (35 titles, 6 runners-up)
Men's singles SU5
Year
Tournament
Opponent
Score
Result
2014
Indonesia Para-Badminton International
Oddie Listyanto Putra
21–13, 21–19
Winner
2014
England Para Badminton Championships
Colin Kerouanton
21–11, 21–9
Winner
2015
Spanish Para-Badminton International
Colin Kerouanton
21–17, 21–6
Winner
2015
China Para-Badminton International
Bartłomiej Mróz
21–15, 21–19
Winner
2015
Indonesia Para-Badminton International
Suryo Nugroho
14–21, 19–21
Runner-up
2016
Irish Para-Badminton International
Taiyo Imai
24–26, 21–9, 21–14
Winner
2017
Spanish Para-Badminton International
Bartłomiej Mróz
21–18, 21–14
Winner
2017
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Taiyo Imai
21–13, 21–16
Winner
2017
Japan Para-Badminton International
Tetsuo Ura
21–10, 21–8
Winner
2017
USA Para-Badminton International
Gen Shogaki
21–2, 21–12
Winner
2018
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Bartłomiej Mróz
21–14, 21–9
Winner
2018
Uganda Para-Badminton International
Sugil Abbas
21–11, 21–5
Winner
2018
Turkish Para-Badminton International
İlker Tuzcu
21–10, 21–14
Winner
2018
Irish Para-Badminton International
Dheva Anrimusthi
21–9, 21–19
Winner
2019
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Dheva Anrimusthi
19–21, 21–18, 16–21
Runner-up
2019
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Fang Jen-yu
21–14, 21–17
Winner
2019
China Para-Badminton International
Suryo Nugroho
21–23, 21–11, 19–21
Runner-up
2019
Denmark Para-Badminton International
Suryo Nugroho
21–18, 21–9
Winner
2019
Japan Para-Badminton International
Suryo Nugroho
21–16, 21–17
Winner
2020
Brazil Para-Badminton International
Dheva Anrimusthi
21–15, 10–21, 21–16
Winner
2020
Peru Para-Badminton International
Fang Jen-yu
21–17, 18–21, 21–16
Winner
2021
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Dheva Anrimusthi
14–21, 22–20, 21–18
Winner
2021
Spanish Para-Badminton International
Taiyo Imai
21–13, 21–11
Winner
Men's doubles SU5
Year
Tournament
Partner
Opponent
Score
Result
2014
Indonesia Para-Badminton International
Suhaili Laiman
Imam Kunantoro Suryo Nugroho
21–23, 21–16, 21–11
Winner
2014
England Para Badminton Championships
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Bartłomiej Mróz Tay Wei Ming
21–13, 21–18
Winner
2015
Spanish Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
James Binnie Mark Modderman
21–8, 21–14
Winner
2015
China Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Chen Kunxiong Zhu Peiqiang
21–11, 14–21, 21–15
Winner
2015
Indonesia Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Imam Kunantoro Suryo Nugroho
21–11, 21–11
Winner
2016
Irish Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Bartłomiej Mróz Tay Wei Ming
21–16, 19–21, 21–11
Winner
2017
Spanish Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Bartłomiej Mróz İlker Tuzcu
21–14, 22–20
Winner
2017
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Bartłomiej Mróz İlker Tuzcu
21–18, 21–14
Winner
2017
Japan Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Kim Gi-yeon Shin Kyung-hwan
21–16, 13–21, 21–10
Winner
2017
USA Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Taiyo Imai Tetsuo Ura
21–14, 23–21
Winner
2018
Dubai Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Oddie Listyanto Putra Suryo Nugroho
21–15, 21–17
Winner
2018
Uganda Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Sugil Abbas Geraldo da Silva Oliveira
21–12, 21–17
Winner
2018
Turkish Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Gen Shogaki Tetsuo Ura
21–10, 21–19
Winner
2018
Irish Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Dheva Anrimusthi Hafizh Briliansyah Prawiranegara
16–21, 21–17, 13–21
Runner-up
2018
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Hairol Fozi Saaba
Dheva Anrimusthi Hafizh Briliansyah Prawiranegara
19–21, 11–21
Runner-up
2019
Irish Para-Badminton International
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
Dheva Anrimusthi Hafizh Briliansyah Prawiranegara
19–21, 19–21
Runner-up
2019
Thailand Para-Badminton International
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
Pricha Somsiri Chok-Uthaikul Watcharaphon
21–14, 21–14
Winner
2019
China Para-Badminton International
Mohamad Faris Ahmad Azri
Suryo Nugroho Fredy Setiawan
21–12, 21–15
Winner
In popular culture
Cheah's story of winning the gold medal in the 2020 Summer Paralympics was immortalised in the 2024 Malaysian film directed by Adrian Teh , Gold , starring Jack Tan as his titural role.[ 9]
References
Notes
^ a b c d e f g h This tournament uses a round robin system.