I’m all ears: Fareez Anuar (left) listening to coach Nova Widianto’s instructions. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Fareez Anuar could be the surprise package in the men’s singles SU5 (upper body impairment) in the Paris Paralympics after pulling off a huge upset win over Indonesia’s Dheva Anrimusthi to book his spot in the semi-finals.
While all eyes have been on the likes of defending champion Cheah Liek Hou, 2021 Tokyo Games silver medallist Dheva and the latter’s teammate Suryo Nugroho, it was Fareez who made the loudest noise in the competition so far by coming from behind to beat Dheva 14-21, 21-19, 21-19 in a thrilling Group B match at Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle on Friday.
It was only the 28-year-old’s second win over Dheva in their past six meetings after first knocking him out in the Dubai International last year.
Fareez, who is making his debut in the Paralympics, is now assured of a spot in the last four after also beating Taiwan’s Fang Jen-yu 21-14, 21-18 in his opening group match a day earlier.
As expected, Liek Hou will also join Fareez in the last four after brushing aside Frenchman Meril Loquette 21-10, 21-16 in Group A.
The 36-year-old had also beaten Poland’s Bartlomiej Mroz 21-10, 21-6 in his first match.
Fareez will play Japan’s Taiyo Imai next while Liek Hou will take on Suryo in their final group matches to decide the group winners.
Nova Armada, who coaches both Fareez and Liek Hou, was pleased with his charges’ performance so far, especially Fareez.
“It was important for Fareez to beat Dheva as we want him to finish top of the group and avoid Liek Hou in the semi-finals,” said Nova.
“So, I’m very happy that he managed to win. His performance has been good so far and hopefully he can maintain this.”
Meanwhile, Noor Azwan Noorlan-Ihkwan Ramli defeated Germany’s Rick Hellmann-Thomas Wandschneider 21-19, 21-17 in their last Group B match in the men’s doubles wheelchair event.
The win though came too late as the pair missed out on the semi-finals after losing to China’s Qu Zimo-Mai Jianpeng and Japan’s Daiki Kajiwara-Hiroshi Murayama in their earlier group matches.
RESULTS
(Malaysians only)
Men’s singles SU5
Group A: Cheah Liek Hou bt Meril Loquette (Fra) 21-10, 21-16.
Group B: Fareez Anuar bt Dheva Anrimusthi (Ina) 14-21, 21-19, 21-19.
Men’s singles wheelchair
Group B: Qu Zimo (Chn) bt Ikhwan Ramli 21-7, 21-4.
Men’s doubles wheelchair
Group B: Noor Azwan Noorlan-Ikhwan Ramli bt Rick Hellmann-Thomas Wandschneider (Ger) 21-19, 21-17.
