Cheah at the July premier of the movie ‘Gold’, based on his journey to winning the badminton gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
THE pride of the nation – Cheah Liek Hou – has received well-deserved accolades all around. The latest acknowledgement comes from Omega.
To mark his recent achievement at the Paralympic Games 2024 in Paris, the watchmaker has gifted the shuttler with its special-edition Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024.
He receives the watch from Omega Malaysia vice-president Martin Issing at an evening presentation in Kuala Lumpur, which was followed by a screening of the film Gold that tells the sportsman’s inspiring story.
The Kuala Lumpur-born Cheah’s right arm is affected by Erb’s palsy, which is a nerve condition in the shoulder and arm that results in weakness or loss of muscle function.
But he persevered to first win the men’s badminton singles gold at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo and then clinched the gold medal again at the Paris Games four years later.
He has also won eight world titles.
At the Kuala Lumpur event to honour him, Cheah happily checks out his exclusive Omega watch.
Issing presenting a Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 to Cheah for winning the gold in badminton Men’s Singles SU5 at the Paris Paralympic Games.
The Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 features a silvery white opaline dial, which is transferred with three dark grey timing scales in a 1940s “snail” design.
They consist of a tachymeter scale, a pulsometer scale and a telemeter scale, thus bringing a wide range of measurements to the wrist.
It represents the perfect tribute to the precise and all-encompassing timekeeping that Omega brings to the Olympic and Paralympic Games as their Official Timekeeper.
Before party guests proceed to the luxurious Aurum Theatre for the movie, Cheah sits down for a short interview.
Q: What does the gold medal mean to you and Malaysia?
A: It shows that I never gave up in my career and have not let down all the hard work and support from so many people.
For Malaysia, I hope it brings pride and show that everyone can achieve great things no matter what.
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
A: One of the biggest challenges was staying motivated through the tough times, and how to defend my title in all the major competitions.
I overcame them by reminding myself why I started this journey and by believing in myself, my coaches and my team members.
Q: Omega has been the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games since 1932 and Paralympic Games since 1992, how does it feel to get a special commemorative watch from Omega as a symbol of your achievement?
A: It’s really a big honour to receive this timepiece from Omega. I really love it so much.
And it is a beautiful reminder of what I have achieved and the journey I have taken. I will always treasure it and appreciate it.
Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 with perforated black calfskin leather strap.
Q: How do you envision your legacy, moving forward?
A: I hope my legacy can inspire others and the whole nation of Malaysia to believe in their abilities and never give up on their dreams.
I want to show that hard work and determination can make anything possible.
Q: How do you feel about Omega’s commitment towards supporting and celebrating athletes like yourself?
A: Omega’s support for athletes, especially Paralympians, shows they value everyone’s journey, no matter the challenges.
It is really encouraging to see a brand like Omega acknowledging our efforts.
This is definitely a good start for athletes, especially para-athletes, and I hope there will be more to come.
