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5 reasons why STTA did not nominate Liu
Thu, May 07, 2009
AsiaOne
Below is a sampling of comments from ex-national table tennis coach Mr Liu Guodong, Singapore National Olympic Council vice-president Dr Tan Eng Liang, well-known plastic surgeon Dr Woffles Wu, the sports community and the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA).
FAVOURED THE WOMEN?
Liu Guodong: I achieved my mission. I got Singapore a medal and saw Singapore's flag raised on the competition arena.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: It is obvious that this was a strategy. By getting a medal, Liu Guodong had achieved his mission and due credit should be given to him.
Dr Woffles Wu: The viewers aren't fools. They can tell that the men's team is weaker even from the TV screen.
Sports community: In the masterplan to win Olympic medals, it was clear that the chances of the men's team winning were slimmer than those of the women's team. As a result, more funds were allocated to the women's team than to the men's. Liu Guodong had to work with these restrictions, so he didn't do anything wrong.
STTA: As the head coach of the national team, he once told the media that he would rather see the women's team finish second and the men's team in the top 16 than see both teams finish in fourth place. It is clear he did not give equal consideration to both teams.
NOT RESPECTED?
Liu Guodong: Do my players not respect me? To be a coach means to make demands of the players.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: Liu Guodong's training was serious and he forbade his players from fooling around. Everyone followed his training instructions. In my time working together with the table tennis team, I never felt the players did not respect him.
Dr Woffes Wu: A coach is not hired to be liked by people.
Sports community: Some players did not want to train and had disciplinary problems, so as the coach he had to step in. Friction among the players is not a new problem and has little to do with Liu. On the other hand, something would be wrong if all players liked their coach.
STTA: Association president MS Lee Bee Wah, in an earlier reply to the media, said: "If you ask the six players (who competed at the Beijing Games) if he is deserving of the Coach of the Year, less than half will agree."
CHARACTER PROBLEMS?
Liu Guodong: What is wrong with my character? I would like to challenge those who say this.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: We worked closely with the table tennis team in the 10 months before the Olympics. We not only saw Liu's ability, but also his commitment and sense of responsibility.
A member of the sports community: When the STTA wanted to extend Liu Guodong's contract, there were no questions raised about his character, and it was Liu who decided not to extend his contract. Why is it that problems appeared in his character when the call for nominations for Coach of the Year were called one to two months later? It would appear that even if there was a problem, it could not have been a serious one.
Another member of the sports community: If there was a problem with Liu, shouldn't it be revealed to the public for the sake of accountability? The STTA's current claim seems too far fetched and could scare off coaches from working for us. This has a great impact on Singapore.
STTA: A Coach of the Year should not just achieve good results, but also have good character.
LACKED PROFESSIONALISM?
Liu Guodong: I have no ulterior motives in leading the team and I will not do anything to let Singapore down.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: If the STTA uses the "Gao Ning incident" to say that Liu Guodong is irresponsible, then it is unfair. After our investigations, we have found out that this was an unfortunate incident. Also, the issue has been laid to rest.
Sports community: It was after our women's table tennis team had clinched the silver medal that Liu Guodong told the media: "We had no way of beating China." This is an honest account of the situation. He also said that our women's team is the strongest team outside of China and had done its best in the final. In what way is it wrong of the coach to say this?
STTA: In nominating for the Coach of the Year award, results are just one consideration. Professionalism and other criteria must also be considered.
LACKED LEADERSHIP ABILITY?
Liu Guodong: It is out of the coach's control when players do not get along. As the coach, I've done all I can to mediate.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: During the preparations for competition, there were many cases of players not getting along. They were all resolved in a firm manner by Liu Guodong. Also, if the women's team won the Senior Team of the Year award, why is it that the coach behind them does not deserve the Coach of the Year award?
Sports community: If the coach did not have leadership ability, would the women's team have gotten the silver medal? Liu Guodong was nominated for the Coach of the Year award in 2007 but he unfortunately did not get it. In 2008, besides leading the women's team to the silver medal, Liu also achieved breakthroughs in other areas. Do his achievements in 2008 not match up to those of 2007, such that Liu is not deserving of a nomination? It is hard to understand this.
STTA: A good coach should be able to unite the team.
5 reasons why STTA did not nominate Liu
Thu, May 07, 2009
AsiaOne
Below is a sampling of comments from ex-national table tennis coach Mr Liu Guodong, Singapore National Olympic Council vice-president Dr Tan Eng Liang, well-known plastic surgeon Dr Woffles Wu, the sports community and the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA).
FAVOURED THE WOMEN?
Liu Guodong: I achieved my mission. I got Singapore a medal and saw Singapore's flag raised on the competition arena.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: It is obvious that this was a strategy. By getting a medal, Liu Guodong had achieved his mission and due credit should be given to him.
Dr Woffles Wu: The viewers aren't fools. They can tell that the men's team is weaker even from the TV screen.
Sports community: In the masterplan to win Olympic medals, it was clear that the chances of the men's team winning were slimmer than those of the women's team. As a result, more funds were allocated to the women's team than to the men's. Liu Guodong had to work with these restrictions, so he didn't do anything wrong.
STTA: As the head coach of the national team, he once told the media that he would rather see the women's team finish second and the men's team in the top 16 than see both teams finish in fourth place. It is clear he did not give equal consideration to both teams.
NOT RESPECTED?
Liu Guodong: Do my players not respect me? To be a coach means to make demands of the players.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: Liu Guodong's training was serious and he forbade his players from fooling around. Everyone followed his training instructions. In my time working together with the table tennis team, I never felt the players did not respect him.
Dr Woffes Wu: A coach is not hired to be liked by people.
Sports community: Some players did not want to train and had disciplinary problems, so as the coach he had to step in. Friction among the players is not a new problem and has little to do with Liu. On the other hand, something would be wrong if all players liked their coach.
STTA: Association president MS Lee Bee Wah, in an earlier reply to the media, said: "If you ask the six players (who competed at the Beijing Games) if he is deserving of the Coach of the Year, less than half will agree."
CHARACTER PROBLEMS?
Liu Guodong: What is wrong with my character? I would like to challenge those who say this.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: We worked closely with the table tennis team in the 10 months before the Olympics. We not only saw Liu's ability, but also his commitment and sense of responsibility.
A member of the sports community: When the STTA wanted to extend Liu Guodong's contract, there were no questions raised about his character, and it was Liu who decided not to extend his contract. Why is it that problems appeared in his character when the call for nominations for Coach of the Year were called one to two months later? It would appear that even if there was a problem, it could not have been a serious one.
Another member of the sports community: If there was a problem with Liu, shouldn't it be revealed to the public for the sake of accountability? The STTA's current claim seems too far fetched and could scare off coaches from working for us. This has a great impact on Singapore.
STTA: A Coach of the Year should not just achieve good results, but also have good character.
LACKED PROFESSIONALISM?
Liu Guodong: I have no ulterior motives in leading the team and I will not do anything to let Singapore down.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: If the STTA uses the "Gao Ning incident" to say that Liu Guodong is irresponsible, then it is unfair. After our investigations, we have found out that this was an unfortunate incident. Also, the issue has been laid to rest.
Sports community: It was after our women's table tennis team had clinched the silver medal that Liu Guodong told the media: "We had no way of beating China." This is an honest account of the situation. He also said that our women's team is the strongest team outside of China and had done its best in the final. In what way is it wrong of the coach to say this?
STTA: In nominating for the Coach of the Year award, results are just one consideration. Professionalism and other criteria must also be considered.
LACKED LEADERSHIP ABILITY?
Liu Guodong: It is out of the coach's control when players do not get along. As the coach, I've done all I can to mediate.
Dr Tan Eng Liang: During the preparations for competition, there were many cases of players not getting along. They were all resolved in a firm manner by Liu Guodong. Also, if the women's team won the Senior Team of the Year award, why is it that the coach behind them does not deserve the Coach of the Year award?
Sports community: If the coach did not have leadership ability, would the women's team have gotten the silver medal? Liu Guodong was nominated for the Coach of the Year award in 2007 but he unfortunately did not get it. In 2008, besides leading the women's team to the silver medal, Liu also achieved breakthroughs in other areas. Do his achievements in 2008 not match up to those of 2007, such that Liu is not deserving of a nomination? It is hard to understand this.
STTA: A good coach should be able to unite the team.
