Four years after hanging up her racket, former Malaysia No.1 women’s singles player Soniia Cheah remains deeply connected to the sport that shaped her life.
Today, Cheah runs a cafe in Kuala Lumpur while coaching at her own academy. Her life is far removed from the demands of professional badminton, but the lessons she learned during her playing career continue to guide her.
“Badminton brings my life values. It teaches dedication and persistence,” Cheah said.
For Cheah, her biggest lessons came through adversity rather than victories.
At just 20, while preparing for her first World Championships, she suffered a serious right Achilles injury. Complications following surgery prevented the wound from healing properly, eventually forcing her to undergo four operations on the same area.
“It was the darkest period in my life,” she recalled.
The injury kept her out of competition for around three years, and at one stage, her doctor told her that returning to badminton was impossible.
But with her family supporting her throughout the difficult period, Cheah refused to give up.
She eventually returned to competition and won her first title at the Belgian International in 2016. A year later, she reached the Russian Open Grand Prix final, won women’s singles silver at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and climbed to a career-best world ranking of No.23.
She also fulfilled one of the biggest dreams of her career by representing Malaysia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Those experiences have given Cheah a unique perspective as she watches Malaysia’s current generation of women’s singles players.
Among them is national No.1 K. Letshanaa, who Cheah believes has made significant progress.
“Letshanaa has improved a lot,” Cheah said. “She’s not so stiff and her execution of the shot is better.
“She shouldn’t feel the pressure. She should go all the way and fight those higher-ranked players. I think she has pretty good potential.”
Cheah has also found a way to keep her own passion for badminton alive.
Through the Sun Heart Badminton Academy, she coaches recreational players aged 30 and above, including some in their 50s.
Asked whether she still enjoys badminton, her answer was simple.
“Yes. That’s why
