KOK CHI FEARS MORALE OF DIVERS AFFECTED
Kok Chi fears Zhuliang issue may affect gold chances in Australia
KUALA LUMPUR: Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) assistant secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi fears that the issue involving outgoing diving coach Yang Zhuliang and the National Sports Institute (NSI) may affect the sport’s chances of winning gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April next year.
Kok Chi is concerned that the issue has, in a way, affected the morale of the diving team.
“There should have been a better way to inform Zhuliang that his contract will not be renewed, instead of the media voicing out one reason and then a totally different one later,” said Kok Chi, who felt the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia ( Asum) also have to shoulder the blame for not managing the situation better.
“If the communication channel is better, it would have prevented Zhuliang’s dissatisfac- tion as he may have felt his reputation was tarnished by the remarks.
“The worst thing is it has affected the morale and mood in the diving team. The statements made will affect the divers especially as they’re preparing for the Commonwealth Games, which is only four months away. The new coach from Australia who is replacing Zhuliang has the job of bringing the divers together.
“If Asum don’t have enough manpower, I suggest they have separate bodies to handle the five different disciplines (swimming, diving, open water, synchronised swimming and waterpolo).
“They can still come under Asum but can be managed by different people. There are enough former national athletes who are qualified to help run their own sports.
“This suggestion was mooted before but it did not get enough support.”
Diving contributed golds at the last two Commonwealth Games through Pandelela Rinong (women’s 10m platform individual in New Delhi in 2010) and Ooi Tze Liang (men’s 3m springboard individual in Glasgow in 2014).
NSI have decided not to renew Zhuliang’s contract although he has produced a world champion in Cheong Jun Hoong this year and Olympic medallists (Pandelela and Jun Hoong).
NSI claimed the Chinese coach’s methods were “old school” and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said last week the real reason was that Zhuliang did not take steps to control his assistant Huang Qiang, leading to an “environment of fear” in the national team.
Huang Qiang, who represented Malaysia in the 2012 London Olympics before he turned to coaching, has since been charged with rape of a 20-year-old diver.