ZHULIANG’S DOWNFALL REVEALED

Covering up for back-up trainer Huang Qiang has led to his exit, says a source

ASOURCE with intimate knowledge of the national diving team has revealed that back-up trainer Huang Qiang was outgoing national coach Yang Zhuliang’s “favourite son.”

It is said that Zhuliang would try to bail out Huang Qiang whenever he got into trouble.

The source made these revelations yesterday when responding to a statement by Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on Friday.

In a Facebook posting, Khairy said there was a “culture and environment of fear” in the national diving scene, and this had led to alleged rape, sexual harassment, violence, physical abuse, bullying and threats.

The China-born Huang Qiang, 35, was charged with the rape of a national diver in October.

"Basically Khairy is referring to that one person (Huang Qiang) but he blames the head coach (Zhuliang) for allowing this to happen," said the source.

"In regard to the sexual harassment incidents, it all took place when Zhuliang was away with Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee for competitions.

The source said Zhuliang and Huang Qiang were good friends as the former used to coach the latter when he was a competitive diver.

"Zhuliang coached him in China in the 1990s. Huang Qiang was a rising star then and was favourite to win gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"But then Huang Qiang suffered an injury which saw him struggle at the time. It was at this point that Zhuliang decided to coach Malaysia (in 2001).

"Zhuliang always tried his best to keep him out of trouble but the alleged rape case was the final straw. Zhuliang said he would leave it to the police.

Huang Qiang retired as a competitive diver for China in 2006 and joined the national set-up in Malaysia as a coach in 2007. He was granted Malaysia citizenship in July 2012 and went on to make a competitive comeback the same year.

He achieved reasonable success, partnering Bryan Nickson Lomas in the 3m springboard synchro event. The duo won gold at the Montreal GP and bronze at the London World Cup in 2012. They went on to compete at the London Olympics, after which Huang Qiang returned to coaching.

Zhuliang could not be reached yesterday for comments on the issue .