Kota Kinabalu: It was the most meaningful Malaysia Day celebration for Sabah's shuttler Didin Terasoh, 40, after winning the BWF Para-Badminton World Championship 2015 men's singles in Stoke Mandeville, England, Sunday.The wide smile on his face said it all as he proudly shows his gold medal upon arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminal late on Tuesday night.
On his way to glory, the unseeded maths teacher with SK Bongkud Ranau won all his matches, including the biggest upset of the tournament where he defeated the top seed from Ireland, Niall McVeigh 21-12, 21-12 during the group match.
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In the quarter ties, Didin defeated 3rd seed Alexander Mekhdier from Russia 21-12, 21-17 but had to work extra hard in the last four against home favourite Kryten Coombs before eventually winning the match 21-14, 18-21, 21-11.
In the final, he did not have problem in beating another home player Andrew Martin who was seeded second in the championship with a straight set 21-13, 21-16 victory.
Didin competed in the Short Stature Sports Class – SS 6 category.
When asked about his recipe to success, Didin said he only seriously prepared himself for two months before registering for the one week centralised training at Bukit Jalil National Sport Complex prior to the championship.
"Actually, I involved myself with lots of sports like football, sepak takraw and table tennis to keep fit. And to be honest, badminton was not my favourite sport until I entered the teacher's training college.
"But since then, I really put my focus on this sport until what I had achieved today.
"The success derived from my hard and continuous training at home," said Didin who hails from Kampung Togudon, Kota Belud.
Defending his crown in the biennial championship in 2017 and 2019 is now on his radar before eyeing for the Paralimpic Tokyo in 2020. Badminton is not listed in Paralimpic Rio 2016.
Meanwhile, Sabah Education Department Director, Datuk Jame Alip who was also at the airport to welcome the newly crown world champ congratulate Didin for his feat.
"Congratulation to him for carrying the good name of teaching profession to the world stage. I was made to understand that apart from being an excellent sportman, he is also a dedicated teacher who is very good in teaching mathematics.
"He proved it that disability is not a factor," he said.
Among the more than 100 crowd of relatives and friends, including his parents and wife Evelyen Peter with their three daughters at the airport were Sabah Sport Council Director, Terrance Pudin; Sabah Badminton Association President, Janih Bangud and officials from the Sabah Disabled Sports and Recreational Association (Person).
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