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Aug 24, 2008 OUT Singapore's table tennis team manager told to leave Fate of head coach also hangs in the balance in shock move by STTA chief By Peh Shing Huei Beijing - Barely a week after helping Singapore win an Olympic silver medal, the country's table tennis team manager has been told he is no longer needed. The head coach's fate also hangs in the balance, with a committee due to deliberate on his future. Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) president Lee Bee Wah told The Sunday Times yesterday that the services of team manager Antony Lee are not needed anymore. The shock move, which some view as not only too rash but also harsh, is sure to put a dampener on the team's scheduled celebrations when they arrive back in Singapore tomorrow. Mr Lee will return to the Singapore Sports Council, where he was seconded from. Ms Lee, who took over as STTA president last month, her first foray into sports, said: 'I have a new team and will have a new CEO and technical director. It is best that the manager is chosen by them. Antony is welcome to apply for the position when we ask for applications.' But a clearly upset Mr Lee, 39, did not take kindly to the news. 'I find it funny that after we achieved the greatest success in 48 years, I am no longer needed. It is baffling,' he said, close to tears, yesterday. The silver - won by the women's team of Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu and Feng Tianwei - was Singapore's first since 1960. 'I'm surprised she did not tell me directly. That would be the courteous thing to do. I have to hear this from third parties. After doing so much for Singapore, I deserve a little respect,' he said. Ms Lee, an engineer who is also an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, had said last Thursday that Mr Lee and the team's head coach Liu Guodong should be responsible for the 'Gao Ning incident' at the Games. Gao, Singapore's top men's table tennis player ranked 12th in the world, had to play without a coach on courtside. He crashed 0-4 to unheralded Tan Ruiwu of Croatia in the first round. His coach Zu Haining had to take care of another player, Yang Zi. Yang's coach Chen Jian had fallen ill. Ms Lee had questioned why the Singapore team, with four coaches in Beijing, could not spare one for Gao. She added that action should be taken against those who had 'neglected their duties'. But asked last night at a Team Singapore reception here if this was the reason for Mr Lee's departure, she said it was not and that she just wanted to 'let the matter rest'. Mr Lee had explained that the two remaining coaches - head coach Liu and Mr Zhang Yong - had to remain in the Athletes' Village to help Li and Feng prepare for their quarter-final matches. In his riposte to Ms Lee last night, Mr Lee said: 'She said we were responsible without even asking for our explanations.' As for the fate of Mr Liu, Ms Lee said it would be decided by an STTA 'coaching committee'. China-born Liu, 34, who has been with the Singapore national team since 2006, told The Sunday Times: 'I hope Ms Lee can help the coaches to get Singapore another great result at the 2012 Olympics and not let all this that we have built go. Even if she wants to, I think Singaporeans won't agree. 'It is very hard to climb up. But it is very easy to fall. I want to defend our medal in London. I am 100 per cent confident that we can get a medal again.' He said repeatedly that Singapore has achieved a breakthrough and should not change the team now. 'We have a great organisation, a great manager, great coaches and players. We have just won a silver medal. Why change now? We have not failed. The manager should not leave.' Ms Lee had a private meeting with the seven players - four women and three men - yesterday afternoon, without inviting any officials. Asked what was discussed, Ms Lee said she assured the players of full support going forward, and that some decisions to be taken would affect them. When contacted, team captain Li declined to comment, saying only that any decisions made will be by the association and not the players. But a source told The Sunday Times that Ms Lee informed the players that some officials would be removed. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports Teo Ser Luck said that there is a chance Mr Lee can still stay in STTA. 'If he wants to stay, he can discuss with the new management council of STTA. I am sure they will be willing to discuss,' he said last night. Project 0812 chairman Ng Ser Miang said he was 'shocked at the timing as well as the manner in which this decision had been made'. Project 0812 is the elite athlete programme started in 2006 to help Singapore win medals at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He said that Mr Lee had been an integral part of the team's success, playing a crucial role in helping to maintain team dynamics. He said: 'We've been receiving congratulatory messages from all quarters. This is a medal which has brought many Singaporeans together, cheering for one cause. 'Now is the time to be celebrating the accomplishments of the team, from the players, the coaches, to those who have played quiet roles in the background. 'I'm quite puzzled as to how a decision like that can be made by the STTA president, who has been in office for just over a month.' [email protected] as predicted!

Saw in the papers that there were people dressed in red standing along the roads in geylang cheering them on as they rode by in their open top buses... Since when Singaporeans so free and boliao? I can understand if it is say, the national football team or a true local athlete winning a major honour but FTs??? I think highly possible most of these supporters are "fake", if not I am sure the papers and TV would be splashing it all out.