Looking smart: Cheah Liek Hou posing for a photograph during a gala premier of the movie Gold.
PETALING JAYA: Para shuttler Cheah Liek Hou hopes a movie about him will inspire youngsters to persevere even when the going is tough.
The Paralympic champion’s life story has been immortalised into a film called “Gold” that will be released on Thursday in cinema. The gala premier of the movie was held recently, attended by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and several former internationals.
Initially, he hesitated to commit but realises that his life story can change another’s.
The 36-year-old thought his career would not take off because of his upper arm disability but he has defied the odds to become the first shuttler to win the 2020 Paralympics gold.
He has also won eight world titles.
In the movie, actor Jack Tan will play the role of Liek Hou while Farid Kamil acts as Datuk Rashid Sidek.
“At first, I didn’t want to make a movie based on my journey,” said Liek Hou.
He was unsure if his story would be something meaningful to the audience but the director Adrian Teh’s persuasion convinced him otherwise.
“I hope my story will be able to inspire teenagers and all Malaysians, who have felt lost in their own life journey,” he said.
He hopes to show everyone that nothing is impossible.
The movie delves into Liek Hou’s early struggles and his pivotal decision to return to badminton, a sport he excelled in but had to be temporarily suspended when he realised that it might not be included in the Paralympics.
He took up a nine to five office job which he thought would be his lifelong career.
Things took a turn when it was announced that badminton would be contested at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Liek Hou said: “I jumped back into my training regime, lost weight which eventually led me to my first gold medal for Malaysia in 2020.”
Reflecting on the emotional journey captured in the film, Liek Hou shared three moments that touched him.
The passing of his father during a tournament in Thailand; his mother’s hospitalisation; and the overwhelming joy of winning gold in Tokyo. He celebrated it with his coach Rashid then, and shared the moment with his mother via a video call.
“It was a rollercoaster ride but winning the Paralympics gold made it all worth it,” he said.
With the next Paralympics in Paris on the horizon, Liek Hou remains steadfast in his focus.
When asked how he handles the pressure of being expected to bring home another gold, he said “I don’t really think of the pressure, instead I just want to perform the best version of myself.”
“I rather think of how to win each upcoming match rather than the pressure and expectations of people.”
Liek Hou is preparing diligently, and is in the midst of a centralised training camp at the National Sports Institute (NSI).
“The draw is not out yet but I know that there are eight players competing in my category, and I’ll be ready to face all of them,” added Liek Hou, who trains under coach Nova Armada now.
One of his biggest challengers will be Indonesia’s Dheva Anrimusthi.
