S'pore swimmers disqualified at Commonwealth Games

[Kiadaw]

I did not read what was in front of this thread...but my view is:

 

Ang PS shd just apologise and admit his mistake, rather than coming out with all his warped excuses...what overworked la, one person only la, and wait for last minute submission of names la, etc.

 

The fact remained: He was late, hoping to reach in 15 mins when the normal journey required 30 minutes. Even it is tactical move to submit names at the last min, he shd be at the swimming compound early. [period]. NOT NEED TO GIVE STUPID EXCUSE!! I lost respect for such KNN character, notwithstanding his illustrious medal records.

 

Actually, base on papers, he didn't even intend to be on time! He thought submit slightly late also can one.

 

Seriously!!! Thought everywhere like Sunny Singapore.

 

But to be fair, its typical Singapore, to be late, but for such an important competition, in a foreign country, still do this kinda stunt. Tell other people, they laugh until stomach pain seh.

 

ANyway, ANg said we should moved on, & forget about the event. See thats what happen when the leaders have such mentality, people follow. Next time screw up, just said, "Honest mistake, lesson learn, time to move on".

[Mohadsalleh]

Malu siol! They expect India highway got PLEASE GIVE WAY ah?

[Mohadsalleh]

I can't controll the traffic my putat lah! Try it on exams ... See how ? Many ppl won't point finger lah just SHOW FINGER!

[Mohadsalleh]

YAYAPAPAYA NOW LL shameful tards

[Mcf777]

Today ST article.

 

The Chief of SAA replied that this is "trival" matter.

 

"In our case, our swimmers were not expected to win medals and were looking for seventh place. It's unfortunate that they weren't able to swim in the final, but it was not a major error."

 

KNN > Havent even compete already gave up. What a loser!

Then what for go for the competition, train so hard, spent so much money on them and dont get anything in return?

Edited October 11, 2010 by Mcf777

[Maxus-MIFA9]

No problem i also partly at fault for not using quote button.

Early morning still abit blur

BTW... this group in India are new swimmers and they are there to get experience & explosure only......

 

The main swimmers are preparing for the Asian Games to be held next month in China.

 

No wonder could not see Tao Li swimming her favourite event which is the 50m & 100m butterfly at the Commonwealth Game.....

[Christan]

Now fire turn to the "Indian chief" instead of Ang.

 

Critics blast swim chief

By Leonard Lim

 

CRITICS have now turned their focus on local swimming chief Jeffrey Leow over last week's Commonwealth Games relay disqualification episode.

 

After slamming Ang Peng Siong for his late submission of the Singapore 4x200m team's entry form for the final last Wednesday, they are now upset with Singapore Swimming Association president Leow's description of his coach's error as 'trivial'.

 

Citing Leow's remark as well as his view that 'our swimmers were not expected to win medals or look for medals', Lim Chin Boon said in an e-mail to this newspaper: 'Give some thought to the young swimmers who I am sure have trained their hearts out, and went to Delhi with great pride and expectations for exposure. �To be disqualified, and then be brushed aside by such disrespectful and condescending comments?'

 

Leow's remarks disparaged the Delhi Games organisers as well, Lim said.

 

'If every team that is not expected to win medals adopted such an attitude, what would happen to the Games, what would happen to sports?'

 

Last Wednesday, Arren Quek, Jeremy Kevin Matthews, Teo Zhen Ren and Mattias Ng qualified seventh fastest for the 4x200m final after the morning heats.

 

[Mcf777]

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_589458.html

 

Parents' sacrifice

 

'The swimmers are not the only ones whose efforts have been negated.'

 

MR GOH CHEE WEE: 'Singapore Swimming Association president Jeffrey Leow's remarks are uncalled for. Swimmers Arren Quek, Jeremy Kevin Mathews, Teo Zhen Ren and Mattias Ng must have put in many hours of training expecting to compete, but they are not the only ones whose efforts have been negated. The efforts made by their parents have also been dismissed through the president's remarks. Upholding team spirit, the swimmers stood by their coach Ang Peng Siong, whom they obviously admire; and for this the swimmers deserve credit.'

 

===============

 

Oct 12, 2010

Wrong to dismiss the mistake as minor

 

MUCH as we may not wish to see swim coach Ang Peng Siong penalised, some form of reprimand is necessary as his was not a minor error which led to the disqualification of our 4x200 men's freestyle relay team ('Ang's mistake was 'trivial', says SSA chief'; yesterday).

 

Otherwise, the association would be setting a precedent and similar mistakes may also be excused in future. While Ang may have been the only swim official at the Commonwealth Games, it should not be an excuse for the mistake.

 

It would have been understandable if Ang had arrived late after having left for the venue an hour before the registration deadline, knowing that he would need half an hour's travelling time to reach it.

 

But he did not. Instead he left for the venue 15 minutes before registration closed. Would officials grant a team an extension knowing that they left only 15 minutes prior to the deadline when it would take half an hour to reach the venue?

 

His mistake was not minor to the disqualified swimmers and their parents. It showed that Ang had not given due regard to the sacrifice put in by the swimmers and their parents. Now, they have to wait for four more years to compete.

 

Lim Beng Lee (Madam)

 

================

 

Oct 12, 2010

SWIM CHIEF'S REMARKS

Simply uncalled for

 

I SUSPECT former Olympian and Singapore's lone swim official in the Delhi Commonwealth Games Ang Peng Siong will not be the only person remembered for the disqualification of the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team ('Ang's mistake was 'trivial', says SSA chief'; yesterday).

 

Singapore Swimming Association president Jeffrey Leow will be equally remembered, if not more, for these remarks in dismissing the mistake: 'It's not like we were the USA swim team and there's a gold medal that we lost out on.

 

'In our case, our swimmers were not expected to win medals or look for medals.'

 

His remarks seem to suggest that the affected swimmers and the public should not make a fuss about the disqualification as the swim quartet were not going to win a medal for Singapore anyway.

 

May I ask why these swimmers were sent for the event in the first place? Or why, for that matter, any athlete, with no hope of a medal, is sent for any competition? When I last checked, the spirit of sportsmanship was more than about winning medals.

 

The disqualification is a sad episode for the affected swimmers. Not only were they deprived of a chance to compete in an event they had trained so hard for, but they must now also deal with the discouragement that representing Singapore at the Games meant very little.

 

Lynette Chan (Ms)

 

==================

 

Oct 12, 2010

Swim chief's remarks disturbing...

 

AS PRESIDENT of the Singapore Swimming Association, Mr Jeffrey Leow's comment in yesterday's report ("Ang's mistake was 'trivial', says SSA chief") sets a disturbing tone for team managers.

 

Whether such a mistake is trivial or not should not depend on whether our swimmers can win medals. Such remarks reflect an attitude that belittles the swimmers' efforts in training and pride in representing the nation.

 

If Mr Leow's remark is justifiable, why bother to send the swimmers, who are not expected to win, to compete under our national colours in the first place?

 

It is certainly not in the interest of the swimmers and Singapore.

 

The association should also bear responsibility for the administrative fiasco which led to the disqualification of the men's 4x200 freestyle relay team for late registration in last Wednesday's race.

 

Allen Tan

 

==============

 

Oct 12, 2010

...and puzzling

 

I AM surprised and confused by the statements made by the president of the Singapore Swimming Association ("Ang's mistake was 'trivial', says SSA chief"; yesterday)

 

Spare some thought for the young swimmers who trained their hearts out and went to Delhi with great pride and expectations for exposure - only to be disqualified and then brushed aside through such disrespectful and condescending comments.

 

Spare some thought too for the games organiser which worked very hard to put on a good show for the world. If every team adopted the same attitude, what would happen to the games, what would happen to sports?

 

As head of such a visible sports association, Mr Jeffrey Leow should have been more sensitive to the feelings of those who worked very hard to contribute to sports and swimming.

 

Lim Chin Boon

 

Edited October 12, 2010 by Mcf777

[Kiadaw]

Now fire turn to the "Indian chief" instead of Ang.

 

Critics blast swim chief

By Leonard Lim

 

CRITICS have now turned their focus on local swimming chief Jeffrey Leow over last week's Commonwealth Games relay disqualification episode.

 

After slamming Ang Peng Siong for his late submission of the Singapore 4x200m team's entry form for the final last Wednesday, they are now upset with Singapore Swimming Association president Leow's description of his coach's error as 'trivial'.

 

Citing Leow's remark as well as his view that 'our swimmers were not expected to win medals or look for medals', Lim Chin Boon said in an e-mail to this newspaper: 'Give some thought to the young swimmers who I am sure have trained their hearts out, and went to Delhi with great pride and expectations for exposure. �To be disqualified, and then be brushed aside by such disrespectful and condescending comments?'

 

Leow's remarks disparaged the Delhi Games organisers as well, Lim said.

 

'If every team that is not expected to win medals adopted such an attitude, what would happen to the Games, what would happen to sports?'

 

Last Wednesday, Arren Quek, Jeremy Kevin Matthews, Teo Zhen Ren and Mattias Ng qualified seventh fastest for the 4x200m final after the morning heats.

 

Dissapointing. But you can't blame him. Our govermant also reputed to flush things off lightly when something goes wrong, so people below all pick up the habit. Nothing can be resolutes with these few steps in our public sector.

 

1) Firstly, said its an honest mistake, then proceed to show all the others things you done right, & said error/mistake cannot be avoided, & we should look at the things we do well, instead on picking on the mistake

2) Said its lesson learn, if possible find scape goats at the lower ranks.

3) Siad we should put this behind us & move on.

 

Try the same explainations at a major private sector cooperation & see what you get!

 

[Wind30]

actually, if you compared to the table tennis men team saga last time where the coach could not make it to keep the male paddler company and kenna left right center for it....

 

The swimming saga is more serious as it totally disqualified the men's team. At least the male pddler got to compete without the coach.

[Amuze]

didnt find much report on this issue. is it being covered?

where is the explanation? A throughly investigation is required.

The HEAD coach must roll.......big head no brain. kana virus is it?

 

His body was what attracted Wendy.

[Jman888]

actually, if you compared to the table tennis men team saga last time where the coach could not make it to keep the male paddler company and kenna left right center for it....

 

The swimming saga is more serious as it totally disqualified the men's team. At least the male pddler got to compete without the coach.

 

the other coach was FT.... this one home breed gold medalist turn coach

[Watwheels]

Why are there so many ppl kicking a big fuss over the disqualification? Th CG is not even a major swim event. Heck, the host dun seem all keen on the preparations. If missed this one can always look fwd to the next coming sports meet.

[Zuoom]

did they say that?

 

whahahaha. just classic. classic replies.

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Why are there so many ppl kicking a big fuss over the disqualification? Th CG is not even a major swim event. Heck, the host dun seem all keen on the preparations. If missed this one can always look fwd to the next coming sports meet.

Its the reason given that is

 

Reg starts at 3pm, leave hotel at 2.45pm, journey will take about 20 ~ 30 minutes ........

 

errrrr............. given this question (Will the team be late for the Reg?) to the PSLE math paper, students, all will score full mark.......

[Kiadaw]

Why are there so many ppl kicking a big fuss over the disqualification? Th CG is not even a major swim event. Heck, the host dun seem all keen on the preparations. If missed this one can always look fwd to the next coming sports meet.

 

If not impoartant, then shouldn't have showed up in the first place. If go, then they bloody perform & don't screw up. Isn't representing your country one of the the greatest honor a sportperson can get? Something any sportperson worth their salt dream about.

 

No wonder we never get far in any competitive sport.

[Watwheels]

The transport which brings them to the village can't be waiting at the hotel all the time. Surely it must have left from the village to go to the hotel to fetch them there. If really traffic jam to & fro, how to blame the coach?

[Christan]

By the way, do swimmers get the prize money given by our government for winning medals (gold, silver, bronze) at this Commonwealth Games? Like in Olympics, get gold reward $1 million? If yes, those swimmers who got DQ might have miss an oppourtunity to lay their hands on some $$$. Who knows, they might have gotten bronze or better.