While many avoid coaching para-athletes, former international Rashid Sidek has taken up the challenge to turn his charges, Cheah Liek Hou and Didin Taresoh, into Paralympic champions.
Coaches do not fancy coaching para-athletes as the salary package is unattractive.
Furthermore, they do not possess the required skill to help special athletes excel in sports.
Rashid, who won the men's singles bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, is a coach who has worked with the best shuttlers in the country.
The 53-year-old was once the BA of Malaysia's (BAM) chief coach and had worked with several established shuttlers, including former World No 1 Lee Chong Wei.
When the opportunity came up to coach Liek Hou in 2020, he took it without thinking twice on a voluntary basis.
He is determined to help Liek Hou, who competes in the SU5 (upper limb impairment) men's singles category, achieve his Paralympic dream.
Rashid is also focused on helping Didin, who he has been coaching for the last four weeks, to make an impression in the SH6 category of the men's singles in Tokyo.
Rashid is now under the payroll of the National Sports Council, who offered him a six-month contract to coach both players for the Paralympics.
"I genuinely want to help both players excel in Tokyo. I am a coach who likes challenges. And when I was approached by Liek Hou, I quickly accepted the offer.
"Although I have been coaching able-bodied shuttlers for much of my career, I enjoy my new role. I do not feel like I am coaching special athletes as they have been doing great in training.
"I am also learning a lot from them as a coach. I am not doing it for the sake of money. I get so much satisfaction helping both shuttlers.
"As coaches, we need to be professional and conduct our roles whole-heartedly.
"Liek Hou and Didin appreciate my commitment . They believe I can help them become Paralympic champions.
"Their dedication and commitment to training are something new to me. I have coached many able-bodied athletes, and not many give their 100 per cent commitment and dedication, but these special athletes are different. And this gives me satisfaction," said Rashid.
Liek Hou is expected to battle Indonesia's Dheva Andrimusthi for the gold medal in his category.
"Under Rashid, I have improved in many aspects of the game. I have also been recording impressive results in tournaments for the last one year.
"I appreciate what he has done for me, and I want to repay him with a medal from Tokyo," said Liek Hou.
Didin, 46, believes Rashid can help him win a medal in Tokyo, although he had only joined training about four weeks ago.
"He understands that I am not young, and he took the trouble of creating a special programme to help me prepare and, at the same time, avoid injuries.
"I am grateful to have him as my coach. I hope this will help me win a medal," said Didin.
For Rashid, it would be a successful coaching stint if both athletes can return with medals from Tokyo.