Singapore ex- national coach Liu Guodong cried foul for not nominated.

Ex Singapore National table tennis Coach Mr Liu Guodong spoke up against comments from Singapore Table Tennis Assocaition (STTA) refusal to endorse him for the Singapore annual Coach of the Year award in an interview with Singapore Chinese paper WanBao.

“What wrong with my character?  What have I done wrong?” answered Liu when interview in telephone in Japan.

“A coach responsibility is to train a good team and not play public relationship.”

Liu whom lead Singapore women table tennis team to won Silver medals at last year 2008 Olympics was upset because of STTA refusal to endorse his nomination for the award depict the request by the Singapore National Olympic Council Awards Committee (SNOC). Liu was particular agitated over the comments by STTA on his characters, sportsmanship and lack of respect by the team players.

“Was my character that bad? Who would understand me?”

“I have no regrets, when coaching in Singaporean, I regards myself as a Singaporean.  I have done nothing wrong!”

On the subject of not being respected by the players, STTA should not hear just one side, “You need to know, every player situation is different.”

“In order to win medal at the 2008 Olympics, we adjusted our training programme in consideration of the team and not based on individual.”
Sng further said “If Singapore table tennis team can achieve 60% of my results 4 years later then it would be not too bad!” 　　

LIU joined the Singapore table tennis team in 2006 and lead Singapore first Olympics medals win in 48 years resigned after a brawl with MS Lee Bee Wah, STTA President over an incident where no coach was present to support in one of the men game.

The refusal by STTA to endorse his nomination was the hot topic in online forums with many readers writing to Straits Times and Today, two of the main English papers in Singapore.

Many of the readers criticized STTA action and some even claim this to be personal acrimony between Liu and Lee.

Sportsmanship Applies to administrators, too!

“I notices these same administrators bathe in this glorious sporting moment yet they deny all members of the truly deserving team their rightful accolade.” “ It is a shame that the current STTA administrators cannot understand this despite the strongest possible hint from the SNOC. Sportsmanship applies to all in sports including sports administrator” – from M Lukshumayeh in TODAY.

Immaturity, instead of imagination

Regardless of whatever internal bickering and feelings there are, STTA had a tremendous opportunity to put this sage to rest and graciously nominate coach Liu for an award he would have romped home with. The Association could have closed an ugly chapter.  Instead, it has shown the public how immature it is” - from Woffles Wu in Straits Times

Sad day for Singapore Sports

Why are the STTA and its president making such a big deal over the fact that coach Liu paid more attention to the women’s team than the men’s at last year Olympics? Ultimately, Liu’ strategy yielded an Olympic silver medal. It will be a sad day for Singapore sports if the decision not to nominate Liu for Coach of the Year award was based on personal acrimony rather than the criteria established by the selection panel of the SNOC.” - from Mr Yong Chun Hui in Straits Times.


SINGAPORE May 7 (Nanyang100) -

MORE NEWS AND COMMENTS AT http://www.nanyang100.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=176

Ex-table tennis coach Liu Guodong plan to sue STTA for defamation