THERE WERE NO COVER UPS
Zhuliang adamant Huang Qiang not his ‘favourite son’
OUTGOING national diving coach Yang Zhuliang admitted that Huang Qiang was ‘playful’ but denied he had ever covered up for his former back-up coach whenever he got into trouble.
Referring to an incident involving Pandelela Rinong and Huang Qiang during a volleyball game, Zhuliang said he reprimanded the latter in front of the whole team for going overboard.
“Sometimes the kids got bored between training and used to play volleyball where the loser got kicked,” said Zhuliang yesterday.
“The kids really enjoyed it as they got to kick Huang Qiang when he lost, the whole team kicked him. It was all fun, nothing serious.
“But then there was once Huang Qiang kicked Pandelela hard and she got angry.
“We called a meeting and I spoke to both of them in front of the whole team. I warned Huang Qiang that as a coach he should not have done such a thing.
“I told them to just play volleyball in the future and no kicking allowed.
“I always reminded Huang Qiang to be careful as he was a coach and had to be responsible. I told him what he could and could not do, and constantly reminded him.”
Zhuliang also refuted claims that Huang Qiang was his ‘favourite son’.
The duo’s relationship stretches back a long way to the mid 1990s when Zhuliang coached Huang Qiang, now 35, in the China national team.
“Huang Qiang is not my favourite in the team. Yes, I did coach him since he was 13 but you have to remember that I had also coached Bryan Nickson Lomas, Cheong Jun Hoong and a few others since they were at that age as well.
“He is a playful person and is sometimes just like the other (younger) kids. Even Bryan says he is naughty,” he said.
Zhuliang, however, said he was unaware about other incidents involving Huang Qiang.
Huang Qiang was charged with the rape of a 20-year-old diver in October.
On Saturday, a source claimed that Zhuliang often covered up for Huang Qiang in the past.
Zhuliang’s contract has not been renewed and he will likely return to China soon.