STTA president hits out at SEA Games Chef de Mission

Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) president Lee Bee Wah on Wednesday took aim at comments made by Singapore’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Chef de Mission (CDM) Tan Eng Liang.

Writing on the wall of her Facebook page, Lee, who is also a Member of Parliament for Nee Soon Group Representative Constituency, expressed her disappointment that Tan spoke at length about a controversy that occurred at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Singapore contingent for which he had led.

In an interview published on the same day, Tan was quoted as saying that Lee had “interfered” at the time — without making direct reference to her — adding that he wished “that NSA officials know their station and responsibilities”.

“It is rather disappointing that Singapore’s CDM to the Sea Games… has decided to bring up painful episodes at this stage, just days before Singapore heads to the major Games,” wrote Lee, adding that Tan should have instead used the opportunity to rally Singaporeans behind their athletes ahead of a potentially tough battle at the upcoming Games.

The incident in question refers to Singapore paddler Gao Ning, who at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was eliminated in a demoralising defeat at his third-round match, which he played without a coach to accompany him. Lee later voiced her unhappiness that the women’s team had four coaches to prepare them for their two evening matches, when Gao and his fellow male paddler Yang Zi were compelled to share one coach after Gao’s coach fell ill at the eleventh hour.

Referring to Tan’s assertion that National Sports Association (NSA) officials should not be sending young athletes to the SEA Games for the purpose of exposure, Lee responded that the STTA has been grooming all of its athletes to meet qualifying standards and head to major Games.

“While the CDM may be responsible for the contingent during the major Games, it is important to note that it is the NSAs which will face the long-term impact if there is anything which happens during such Games,” she added.

“It is almost farcical for Dr Tan to suggest that the NSA presidents have no stature at the games,” she continued. “Is he then suggesting that all NSA presidents remain silent throughout and not step in to solve problems or issues which may arise?”

Separately, on her Facebook fan page, Lee reiterated her stance on fielding young homegrown talent. In a post published on Wednesday afternoon, Lee voiced her encouragement to 16-year-old paddler Isabelle Li, writing, “I am sure Isabelle is keen to prove her critics wrong… (her not being ranked second or third) in Singapore does not mean that we should not give her a chance.”

Lee’s and Tan’s comments also follow a separate controversy that ensued earlier this year between the STTA and the SNOC, after both were unable to agree on the lineup of table tennis players to field for this year’s SEA Games.