Rashid to help add finishing touch to Didin’s game

National badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek (left) and national para shuttler Didin Taresoh (right)
29/07/2021 04:19 PM

By Amiril Muttaqien Meketar

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 -- National para shuttler Didin Taresoh is set to receive a timely boost ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics next month.

The Sabah men’s singles shuttler, who will be competing in the short stature (SS6) category in Tokyo, will get to train under national badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek in Bukit Jalil next week.

Rashid, when contacted, confirmed this, telling Bernama: “Didin used to train in Sabah but I will now coach him for about a month before the Tokyo Paralympics begin next month.

“Didin just arrived here yesterday and is undergoing quarantine at the Malaysia Paralympics Sports Excellence Centre in Kampung Pandan before resuming his training at Bukit Jalil next week.”

Didin, together with another national men’ singles para shuttler Cheah Liek Hou, will be making their debut in the Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan from Aug 24-Sept 5.

Meanwhile, Rashid, who coaches Cheah in the SU5 (upper body disability) category, reminded him to be wary of the threat posed by world number one Dheva Anrimusthi of Indonesia should they meet when the sport makes its debut at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Rashid, who won a bronze medal in men’s singles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the United States, also advised world number two Cheah to treat his arch-rival with respect.

Rashid said that although he is banking on Cheah to bag the gold medal, he would not put any pressure on the para shuttler and hoped that the 33-year-old would be prepared for the challenges he will face when the action begins at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo.

Cheah looks to be in good shape, especially after ousting Dheva 14-21, 22-20, 21-18 to win the Fazza-Dubai Para Badminton International tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in April.

The para shuttler then continued from where he left off to beat Japanese world number five Taiyo Imai 21-13, 21-11 in the final of the Spanish Para Badminton International Championships, which was his last outing before he heads to Tokyo.

-- BERNAMA