KUALA LUMPUR: Cheah Liek Hou stayed on course for his eighth world men's singles SU5 (upper impairment) title after powering into the semi-finals of the World Para Badminton Championships in Pattaya today.
The top seeded Liek Hou defeated Turkey's Ilker Tuzcu 21-9, 21-18 in the last eight, his ninth win in as many meetings between them
In the last 16, Liek Hou was also in his element, triumphing 21-18, 21-11 over India's Chirag Baretha.
Liek Hou had earlier finished as Group A winner, winning both his encounters against Poland's Bartlomiej Mroz and South Korea's Kim Gi Yeon without dropping a game.
Indonesia's Dheva Anrimusthi, the arch rival Liek Hou beaten to Tokyo Paralympics gold in 2021, also booked his place in the last four,, setting up the next clash with Taiyo Imai of Japan.
Another Malaysian, Fareez Anuar also made it to the knockout stage but his gallant run ended in the quarter-finals.
Fareez sent China's Li Ming Pan packing 21-19, 21-17 but found his match in Taiwan's Fang Jen Yu, going down 21-15, 17-21, 21-15.
In the men's singles WH1 (wheelchair), Ikhwan Ramli was ousted 21-9, 21-7 by China's Qu Zi Mo.
Azwan Noorlan featured in men's singles WH2, but he did not make it past the group stage.