STTA insincere, draft joint statement not accurate - Liu Guodong

Liu Guodong, former national table tennis coach, angry with STTA’s insincerity after two meetings to resolve claims by STTA on his characters and for not nominating him for the annual coach of the year award. The sag between Liu Guodong, the former national table tennis coach and Singapore Table tennis Association (STTA) took another turn on Sunday when it looked as if they were about to be resolved peacefully.

The 35-year-old Liu returned to Singapore from China last Thursday to seek clarifications from STTA over STTA’s refusal to nominate him for Coach of the Year honours and comments made its president, Ms Lee Bee Wah.

In an official respond to queries by the Singapore Olympic Council on why STTA did not nominate Liu for the coach of the year award last month, STTA indicated that the best coach is not just about results, he need to have good professionalism, team spirit, integrity and need to be respected by the players.

Liu felt that the respond is an attack on his character and integrity。 He returned to Singapore last Thursday to seek clarification and demanded Ms Lee Bee Wah to make press clarification on this matter else he might consider taking legal action against Lee.

Liu met with STTA's chief executive officer Chew Soo Sheng and honorary secretary Soon Min Sin at the Shangri-la Hotel last Friday for slightly over two hours to resolve the claims by STTA over his character, integrity and lack of respect by the team players. He described the meeting as "cordial and friendly". Liu indicated that both Chew and Soon told him that they cannot made the decision and have to scheduled a second meeting to discuss further. He expressed confidence that STTA would accept his conditions.

However, Liu emerged from a second meeting on Saturday night it flustered and angry.

"They (STTA) gave me an English draft statement, which I couldn't read as I don't understand English.  They explained the content to me but it was different from what was translated by my friend, “said Liu, who showed a copy of the letter to reporters on Sunday.

The draft joint statement in English is different from his discussion and agreement with STTA when Liu has the draft translated and explained to him by a friend.

 “We discussed for several minutes yesterday but both the attitude was different from our first meeting. I believe they are against me.  I am very angry with our discussion; their attitude is very fake and insincere!”   Liu commented when asked by the media.

"After two discussions, Lee Bee Wah wasn't even present once. I think with this attitude, they say one thing, and then mean another. They have not honestly acknowledged this matter. I will not sign anything with them because I have no relationship with them."

Liu, currently the national coach for the Indonesian table tennis team, lead the Singapore women table tennis team to its first silver Olympic medal and Singapore first Olympic medals after 48 years of no medals at the Olympic. Liu, however, was not nominated for the annual coach of the year award by STTA even after urging by the Singapore Olympic Council.

The draft typed letter, which was to be a joint statement from the STTA and Liu, stated that the association acknowledged Liu’s contributions in guiding the women's team to the Olympic silver medal at last year's Beijing Games.

The letter also said that comments made about coach Liu were not in any way meant to take away his contributions to Singapore table tennis, nor were they meant to suggest any acts of dishonesty on his part.

It also said that the STTA have the right to choose who to nominate for the Singapore Sports Awards, and that they stood by their decision not to nominate Liu and Liu has understand the decision.

Liu taken issue with the letter's contents.

STTA honorary secretary Soon Min Sin confirmed their second meeting and expressed that the aim of STTA is to find a win-win resolution.

“We met yesterday without prior arrangement because all of us have some free time.  There is no change to the situation. We are hoping for a win-win resolution. We will continue to discuss with Liu Gudong, in a friendly manner to find a resolution.”

Soon did not mention about the draft joint announcement.

It appeared from the statements there are discrepancies by both parties on what had transpired. 　

Liu will return to Beijing tomorrow to prepare for the China table tennis league competition and hope to come back to Singapore at the end of the month after he completed three rounds of competitions, to seek clarification from STTA claims on his characters.

“After two discussions, they came out with this kind of draft announcement.  How to proceed? It is time for them to respond officially..whatever I said, at the end…” said Liu.

Singapore, May 18, (Nanyang100com)