PETALING JAYA: National para shuttler Fareez Anuar will hold nothing back during training as he gears up for the World Championships from Feb 20-25 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Competing in the men’s singles SU5 (upper body impairment), the 27-year-old Fareez is determined to reach at least the semi-finals in the world meet to solidify his standing in the Road to Paris rankings, where only the top six will make the cut.
Fareez finds himself in a precarious position as he is ranked No. 6 with 40,452 points, maintaining a slim lead of 1,958 points over Japan’s Taiyo Imai.
Fareez is willing to go the extra mile in training as he acknowledges the risk of slipping out of the top six if he does not perform well in the world tourney, which serves as the final event offering qualification points.
“My preparation for the World Championship is going well and aligning with coach’s planned schedule,” said Fareez, who trains under Nova Armada.
“It is likely that the coach will push us to ensure thorough preparation for the championship.
“Reaching the semi-finals would be great but it will be even better if I can make it to the final. I’m completely on board with the coach’s plan as long as it positively contributes to my improvement.
“This tournament is important to me as it will be my last opportunity to collect points for the Paralympics.
Fareez’s doubles partner Cheah Liek Hou is almost assured of a spot in the Paralympics as he holds the top position in the rankings.
