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Jacob Maliekal. Picture: ANESH DEBIKY/GALLO IMAGES
JACOB Maliekal was a decent cricketer growing up, but he then opted to take the more difficult, less travelled path to badminton glory.
The former Selborne College pupil, who was there a few years above sprint star Anaso Jobodwana, left East London to seek his fortune on the badminton courts of Asia.
"I was more into cricket and tennis," Maliekal said from his training base in Shenzhen, China, on the border of Hong Kong, before heading to Rio for the Olympics.
"I played a bit of hockey, but cricket was the main one. I was in provincial teams throughout my school days."
The son of Indian immigrants, he used to play badminton at the Lotus club his father started in East London. In Grades 10 and 11 his badminton improved to the point of overtaking cricket, and in matric he made the national side.
"I left cricket … it was a tough choice," he recalled.
Maliekal wanted to improve his badminton, but he knew he could not do that if he stayed at home in SA.
"We don’t have that many coaches, training partners, so I left for Malaysia.
"I was there for five years, from 2010 to 2015. I was training there, I did a degree in international business and management as well at the Monash University.
"In Asia badminton is very popular, it’s like our rugby and cricket. There’s a lot of money that gets pumped into it, there’s sponsors, there’s a market over here," added Maliekal, who worked hard to get good enough to be noticed.
"I had to prove myself. My dad had to sponsor me for everything. For the first five years most of the stuff he had had to cover for me."
He now plays for the Kawasaki club in China, where most of his expenses are covered.
"We don’t play in a league. We are one group that trains together, we just call it a club. We train, play exhibition matches for promotion purposes."
Moving to China was a "big jump culturally".
"But the guys here, the coaches and that, they look after us really well. I’m here with a few of the guys I was training with in Malaysia, so since we’re together it’s nice."
Maliekal, the 2011 and 2015 Africa Games champion, is hoping to spring a few surprises when he competes at the Games next Friday.
He has done it before, like at the Orleans French international challenge this year, where he beat the No4 seed, who was ranked 40th in the world, as well as the top Polish player.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Maliekal took Asian route to the Games
JACOB Maliekal was a decent cricketer growing up, but he then opted to take the more difficult, less travelled path to badminton glory.
The former Selborne College pupil, who was there a few years above sprint star Anaso Jobodwana, left East London to seek his fortune on the badminton courts of Asia.
"I was more into cricket and tennis," Maliekal said from his training base in Shenzhen, China, on the border of Hong Kong, before heading to Rio for the Olympics.
"I played a bit of hockey, but cricket was the main one. I was in provincial teams throughout my school days."
The son of Indian immigrants, he used to play badminton at the Lotus club his father started in East London. In Grades 10 and 11 his badminton improved to the point of overtaking cricket, and in matric he made the national side.
"I left cricket … it was a tough choice," he recalled.
Maliekal wanted to improve his badminton, but he knew he could not do that if he stayed at home in SA.
"We don’t have that many coaches, training partners, so I left for Malaysia.
"I was there for five years, from 2010 to 2015. I was training there, I did a degree in international business and management as well at the Monash University.
"In Asia badminton is very popular, it’s like our rugby and cricket. There’s a lot of money that gets pumped into it, there’s sponsors, there’s a market over here," added Maliekal, who worked hard to get good enough to be noticed.
"I had to prove myself. My dad had to sponsor me for everything. For the first five years most of the stuff he had had to cover for me."
He now plays for the Kawasaki club in China, where most of his expenses are covered.
"We don’t play in a league. We are one group that trains together, we just call it a club. We train, play exhibition matches for promotion purposes."
Moving to China was a "big jump culturally".
"But the guys here, the coaches and that, they look after us really well. I’m here with a few of the guys I was training with in Malaysia, so since we’re together it’s nice."
Maliekal, the 2011 and 2015 Africa Games champion, is hoping to spring a few surprises when he competes at the Games next Friday.
He has done it before, like at the Orleans French international challenge this year, where he beat the No4 seed, who was ranked 40th in the world, as well as the top Polish player.
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