KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time Paralympic champion Cheah Liek Hou opened his campaign in the men's singles SU5 category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on a positive note today.
The 38-year-old showed his experience as he downed South Korea's Kim Gi-Yeon 21-17, 21-10 in their opening group A clash at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
Liek Hou, a silver medallist in the singles event at Hangzhou 2022, will face Vietnam's Van Ann Tuan in his next group match on Monday.
Faris Ahmad Azri, competing in the same category, lost his group B match against Taiwan's Fang Jen-yu 21-19, 21-13.
Amyrul Yazid Ahmad Sibi also lost his group F match against India's Hardik Makkar 21-16, 16-21, 21-18.
Liek Hou is also competing in the men's doubles SU5 category with partner Faris.
The current world champions downed Taiwan's Jen-yu and Pu Gui-yu 21-13, 21-11 in their opening group match yesterday in what was a repeat of the world championship final from earlier this year.
In boccia, world champion Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim eased to wins over China's Qi Cuifang (4-1) and United Arab Emirates' Raisa Alfalasi (7-1) in pool B of the women's individual BC4 event.
She will face Uzbekistan's Munira Abdullaeva on Monday.
Angeline Lawas also beat Taiwan's Tsai Yi-ting in their women's individual BC1 pool A match while Avrinda Anis downed Japan's Nana Annoki 7-2 in their women's individual BC2 pool C clash.
Hanafi Mohd Rosli, however, succumbed to a 16-0 defeat to Thailand's Pornchak Larpyen in the men's individual BC4 event (pool B).
In table tennis, the men's singles class 11 event saw Jennahtul Fahmi Ahmad (group A) earning a walkover against Indonesia's Muhammad Dwiputra while Hazlin Abdullah lost to Taiwan's Hsieh Fei 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5 in their group B match.
The men's singles class 9 event saw Chee Chaoming going down 7-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-8 to Indonesia's Kusnanto in their group B match. Gloria Wong notched a 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 win over Japan's Tamano Yamazaki in their women's class 10 group C clash.
The official opening ceremony for the Games will be held at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium tomorrow.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd