Brazil Para Badminton tourney not part of NSC’s plans
KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- The Brazil Para Badminton International 2022, which Tokyo Paralympic 2020 gold medallist Cheah Liek Hou will be competing in, is not included in the National Sports Council's (NSC) plans.
A source said that if any athlete, including Liek Hou, were to compete in a tournament not in the NSC calendar, then the athlete will have to manage the whole process himself or herself, including financing.
According to the source, the NSC would usually bear all the costs involved if the tournaments or championships were part of their plans.
“I understand that the NSC had asked Liek Hou to correct the statement he uploaded on his social media account today, so we just have to wait for further clarification from him,” the source told Bernama today.
Earlier, Liek Hou wrote on his Facebook page that he and his coach, Datuk Rashid Sidek left for Brazil using their own money, including for all expenses there.
“This para tournament does not offer any prize money. So, this is a case of spending and not getting anything in return,” wrote Liek Hou, who will be competing in the Brazil Para Badminton International 2022 in Sao Paulo from April 19-24.
The 34-year-old, who is also a six-time men’s singles para world champion, is said to have forked out about RM15,000 of his own money to compete in Brazil, with flight tickets alone costing RM7,000.
The championships in Brazil will be the world number two para shuttler’s first outing since making history by becoming Malaysia’s first badminton gold medallist at the Paralympics when he competed in the 2020 Tokyo edition last September.
Liek Hou defeated arch-rival Dheva Anrimusthi of Indonesia 21-17, 21-15 in the men’s singles SU5 (physical impairment) final at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo.
-- BERNAMA
