I want to sue for defamation: Coach Liu
"I've been defamed. I want to find a lawyer to seek justice."
This was what ex-Singapore table tennis coach Mr Liu Guodong said, according to a Lianhe Wanbao report. In an interview with Wanbao Thursday morning, he asked people to stop upsetting him.
"I have never done anything to let Singapore down. There are some untruthful people, and it is their characters that are questionable," said Mr Liu in Mandarin.
"If anyone utters nonsense and says I've tarnished Singapore's reputation, then I have the right to sue. My conscience is clear.
"In what way is my character poor? Those who say this are being irresponsible to Singapore," he said.
He expressed disappointment that despite creating numerous breakthroughs in four years of coaching here, he was unable to get the Coach of the Year award. And from the way things are going, he said he no longer needs to covet the award.
Still has strong feelings for the Singapore team
"I did my job well during my term. Until today, I have strong feelings when I see the Singapore team, and even take time out to see Feng Tianwei (national female table tennis player) compete.
He said he has been feeling low the past two days after hearing the STTA's explanation for not nominating him for the award.
"But I am very grateful to the Singapore National Olympic Council and to Dr Tan Eng Liang for their concern towards me. That is better than winning the Coach of the Year award," said Mr Liu.
No right to criticise me
"Those who don't know me have no right to criticise me," he said, adding that the new management at the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) took the helm just one month before the Olympics started.
"They don't understand the situation or training strategies, they don't understand me.
"There are a lot of people in the STTA now that I don't know and some I've never met before. They have no right to criticise me,” he said.
Also, the results he achieved over the last year should not be judged by just a small group of people, added Mr Liu, but by the whole of Singapore.
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