KUALA LUMPUR: Cheah Liek Hou remained grounded despite clinching a record-extending eighth individual SU5 (upper impairment) crown at the recent Para Badminton World Championships in Pattaya.
The 35-year-old believes it is premature to see this victory as a return to his peak form, or to reinstate him as the favourite for a second successive Paralympic gold in Paris this September.
In yesterday's final, Liek Hou defeated his Indonesian rival Dheva Anrimusthi 21-15, 16-21, 21-15, which is a significant triumph given Dheva's status as his primary threat at the Paralympics.
However, Liek Hou chose to temper any excitement, recognising the challenges ahead after losing the dominance he once held.
Last year, Liek Hou's dominant streak, which saw him claim 14 consecutive titles and remain unbeaten for 75 matches since 2019, came to an end.
During the latter half of 2023, he failed to secure victory in any of the four tournaments he participated in.
"I wouldn't claim to be back at my best based solely on this victory," said Liek Hou, who also secured the doubles crown with Fareez Anuar, bringing his combined world title collection to an impressive 14.
"Frankly, I wasn't entirely satisfied with my performance in the final, I wasn't even in peak condition.
"If anything secured me the title, it's likely the experience that helped me through.
"I'm pleased to win nonetheless. Winning the year's inaugural event is always gratifying, especially at the world meet.
"I aim to maintain this momentum until Paris, but I'm mindful of the challenges my age presents."
Reflecting on last week's tournament, Liek Hou acknowledged the toll it took on him and welcomes a well-deserved break to recover.
Playing on a soft surface court had made things worse, he noted.
"I was puzzled why the organisers opted for such a soft court. It was the same surface used during last year's Thailand event on the world circuit.
"I filed an official complaint, but nothing changed," Liek Hou lamented.
"I believe everyone faced the same issues and struggled to perform at their best.
"Such a court surface isn't suitable for a sport that requires significant footwork and jumping; it places strain on players' bodies, especially the knees.
"So, this tournament was particularly draining."
Liek Hou has ample time to recuperate, with his next competition not until April, where he is scheduled to participate in back-to-back world para circuit events in Toledo and Vitoria, Spain.
He emphasised the importance of planning his tournament schedule intelligently to facilitate recovery and minimise the risk of injury.
"If all goes well, I also plan to compete in lower-tier able-bodied tournaments, such as the Future Series or International Series level, if I can gain entry," Liek Hou revealed.
"I need quality matches, not quantity, to prepare for the Paralympics."