when things come down to this, it's hard to walk away and let the false accusations stain my skin. Today at swim squad i walked in to see Dave (coach) holding up a newspaper clipping, and some guys huddled over scrutinising it.
oh surprise! it's the article "Chan still a national team member" (ST, Oct 20).
Phil, one of the guys I train with just came bk from a business trip in S'pore. He cut out the article as a souvenir from S'pore. hurrhurr.
Dave reckons my swim's improved significantly and my run's improved too so i'll hammer when i get home. hehe.
Well, we see this mess has blown over to Melb! Let's review what has been going on.
It started with a simple, objective and factual letter which was improvement focussed.
STI Home > ST Forum > Story > Print
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Oct 16, 2006
Predicament of national triathlete based abroad
I AM a national triathlete and represented Singapore at the 2005 SEA Games. I am currently based in Melbourne to further both my education and training. My decision to come to Australia was influenced by its strong sporting culture and excellence in triathlon.
Before I left, I told the Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS) about my plans and requested both moral and financial support.
However, TAS briefly assured me I would not be disadvantaged by being away, and coldly turned down my request for support. Here in Melbourne, I have taken the initiative to update TAS consistently on my training, race schedules and race performances via e-mail and follow-up telephone calls. However, my e-mail messages went unanswered and I was omitted from TAS' race calendar.
I understand TAS, like many national sports associations (NSAs), is stretched thin in terms of resources. But this should not be an excuse to sideline athletes who go overseas - it may harm the standard of the sport. If TAS does not put in effort for its athletes, how can it expect athletes to work hard for it?
Athletes based overseas have the advantage of experiencing training methods and sporting culture in different countries. TAS - in fact, all NSAs - should tap this and engage its athletes, both local and abroad, to give feedback and contribute insights to raise the standard of sports in Singapore.
This is especially so as there is a 'dearth of management talent in sports - those with both the ability and availability', according to Straits Times sports editor Tay Cheng Khoon ('Sports has no place for cronyism'; ST, July30).
I applaud the new Code of Athlete Management, which requires NSAs to have greater transparency and fairness, and equal opportunities in selection of national representatives.
However, it is crucial that this is flexible and assessed on a case-by-case basis, to prevent athletes from being dropped unfairly, thereby stifling advancement of the sport.
TAS should be flexible in its national squad training attendance criteria for athletes based abroad to accept sensible alternatives such as consistent updates of training diaries. This will allow it to ensure that athletes put in quality training hours and effort.
Certain stipulated races can then be used as qualifying trials for international contests such as the Commonwealth Games, which is the system in Australia. It is important that all national athletes are informed of and have access to these trials.
National athletes should be selected based on merit, that is, good race performances and consistent, diligent training. If athletes based overseas can improve and produce good results, we should be given fair opportunities to represent the nation.
Elaine Chan Mei Xian (Miss) Melbourne, Australia
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16/10
Hi Uncle Mark, Coach and Siew Yee,
What are the latest developments in terms of the plans for the
national squad? I have not received any news regarding the national
squad and plans since I called 2 weeks ago. Also, are there any plans
for me in terms of races? I have not been sent to any races since
coming down, despite expressing my availability and interest to
continue racing. I have been regularly taking part in running races.
However, there have been no triathlon races because it is not yet
summer.
Attached is my training log for the past 3 weeks. I have previously
updated you on my past race timings and training log. I have been
maintaining 9-10 sessions of training a week, except for race
intensive weeks.
On Oct 8, I took part in the Melbourne Half Marathon. Finished with a
time of 1.48 including an 8min pit stop in the bushes. Splits include
47.30 at 10km and 1.21 at 17km mark. A good timing well indicative of
my consistent and dilligent training efforts and form, I believe.
I will be having exams on the 8th, 9th and 14th of November and will
be returning to Singapore on the evening of the 16th of November.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Elaine
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NO REPLY
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17/10
Hello Elain,
As a national coach, I am quite disappointed at your activities!
Please pay attention to your words and deeds to the public!
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17/10
Dear Guo Jiao Lian,
I believe my letter was objective, factual and fair. It was a last
resort as I sent numerous emails to Siew Yee, yourself and even the
president of the Association, Uncle Mark. Follow up phone calls were
also made yet I received no concrete response. I gave it much though
but I am disappointed by the way I have been treated by the
Association since coming to Melbourne - something should be done. I
believe it is the responsibility of the Association to support its
athletes.
Perhaps you have misinterpreted my intentions. The aim of the letter
was to seek and suggest improvements to the current situation. I
suggest we look at how we can improve the situation, such as what are
the national squad and criteria, plans for me in terms of races and
whom I can lias with regarding my training and racing here in
Melbourne.
I will be glad to avail myself for discussion and clarification.
Elaine
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NO REPLY
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19/10
Hi Marc (ST sports journalist),
just to clarify. Besides updating TAS on my race performance (running), I have consistently updated them on ALL my trainings - swimming, cycling and running. But I received no reply until I make follow up calls, which I did not receive concrete replies as to my national team status, their intention to send me for any races (despite me expressing interest in Asian Cup/ITU races such as Macau and Hong Kong), and their plans for me.
I have yet to participate in any triathlon races over here because it was winter and spring. Triathlon season starts in summer. I will definately participate in several triathlon races next year, such as Mooloolaba (also aust uni games) and Geelong. These are race initiatives on my part, and I will appreciate if TAS supports me in these races where I have to travel out of Melbourne.
Also, I understand the added costs involved in sending me to Asian Cup races. This can be discussed - perhaps I can be sent to fewer overseas races (1 or 2 instead of more), or we can negotiate the burden of extra costs incurred. But as of now, they have had no plans to send me for any races, or even discuss it with me.
After my letter to The Straits Times was published, I got a short and threatening email from the National Coach, which bascially warned me to watch my words and actions in public. This was particularly upsetting because the aim of my letter was to seek improvements and open discussions with TAS. It also seems TAS is not concern with improving the situation.
I have been doing my part and taking initiatives to reduce the inconvenience on TAS' part. I hope they will appreciate my efforts and be more encouraging because their response, or rather, lack of response, dampens my motivation. It is not easy being abroad alone, but I am willing to continue training hard and to do my part to serve the Nation.
Elaine
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Oct 20, 2006
Chan is still a national team member
TAS says triathlete need not worry about getting axed if she shows results
By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT, Marc Lim
SHOW us the results and you will remain in the national team.
That was the message the Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS) had for national triathlete Elaine Chan.
It was responding to her letter published in The Straits Times' Forum page on Monday.
In it, the 19-year-old University of Melbourne student had expressed her disappointment with the TAS.
She claimed that it had sidelined her since June, when she left to study in Australia.
She added that her e-mail query to the TAS regarding her national-team status had also gone unanswered.
She was also left out of the team that competed in the recent Macau and Hong Kong legs of the Asian Cup.
But yesterday, the TAS assured Chan that she is still part of the 11-member national team. But whether she will remain in the squad will depend on her performances.
Said TAS president Mark Tay: 'Like any of our athletes, she will first have to prove that she deserves to be in the national team.
'She has to update us on what she is doing in Australia so we can keep track of her progress.'
He said the decision to exclude her for the Macau and Hong Kong legs was made at the beginning of the year.
First, the TAS sends only its top athletes to those two events as they cost more because of their greater distance from Singapore.
There are only two women in the national team: Elisa Ng, who won the bronze at last year's SEA Games and Chan, who finished sixth out of six.
Second, the Asian Cup fund had budgeted for athletes to travel only from Singapore, and not Australia.
Because of budget constraints, each athlete is assigned a number of competitions by national coach Guo Weidong.
Chan was sent to Thailand and Malaysia this year. She also took part in a three-week training camp in China before leaving for Australia.
Tay said that since her departure, she has competed only in running events.
But Chan pointed out that the triathlon season in Australia starts only next month, and that she has picked two races in March to compete in.
She added: 'I have always informed the TAS of my schedule.
'I average 20 hours a week, swimming, running and cycling. Because of this, my personal best for the 5km run has dropped from 23 minutes to 21min 30sec.
'I thought that would be a good indication of my form and that I'm putting in the effort.'
With the triathlon and duathlon included in next year's South-east Asia Games, she is training with a Games berth in mind.
Said the media and communications student: 'I want an assurance that I won't be overlooked because I am overseas.
'I will fund my own way back to Singapore to participate in any trial. All I am hoping is for the TAS to show more interest in overseas-based athletes.
'It can be demoralising when you train so hard, only for the association to appear uninterested in you.'
The TAS will be reviewing its national team selection process soon to ensure more transparency. Performance, though, will still be the most important criterion.
Chan's status as a national triathlete will be reviewed in January.
marclim@sph.com.sg
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20/10 Tri Fam Forum page online
Hello everyone,
This is Elaine. Thank you for many supportive comments! It has been really frustrating, and this situation is looking to be difficult.
Having been here in Melbourne for just 3 months I have sent over 10 emails and made numerous follow-up calls to TAS - all the way from the full-time staff to the head coach to the President. But i have NOT received any reply, which was why I turned to the media to voice my disappointment.
My emails were regarding my position in the national team, plans for me, updates on what's going on and updates about my training logs and race performances.
I think my case is simply an illustration of TAS' lack of support for its athletes and perhaps the inefficient and ineffective way it manages its athletes.
I was a little disappointed with today's article as it does not do justice to my situation.
In case you might be interested in the current situation between TAS and me since the letter was published - I have not gotten a reply from them once again, despite emailing them about how we can discuss plans for me and criteria for the National Squad and whom I can lias with. I received a short warning email from the National Coach on tues morn asking me to "watch my words and deeds in public!", which is basically, to shut up. I think this shows that TAS is more concern abt the possible dent in its reputation than to work on improving the situation, which was the contents of my letter.
Well, as for overseas races, they have not discussed them with me, neither have they told me their plans for me. I have emailed them to express interest in certain races, but those have gone unanswered - they did not even bother telling me they are not intending to send me. I have always maintained i am open for discussion - we can negotiate the burden of the extra costs incurred, or work out alternatives such as racing in aust or sending me to fewer races instead. No reply.
They only send our top athletes to Macau and Hong Kong? From the looks of it, this isn't the case.
They have indirectly hinted to me that I have not chalked up triathlon race points, which is a criteria for the national squad. This is very unfair because triathlon season starts only in summer, which isn't to Nov but I will be home in Singapore over summer. Besides, they are not supporting me at all in terms of racing and training, which is what they are doing for local athletes based in Singapore. Inter-state travelling, accomodation and race entry is a financial challenge for me being an international student.
My good results in my running races over here are an indication of my hard work and form.
I'm sure all of you are training as hard, and we all do it out of the love for triathlon. I think more can be done to improve the triathlon scene in Singapore! Much as I am fired up to write about it, I know I am risking my position in the national team and risking being blacklisted by TAS, but the discussion it has sparked is worth it - hopefully it's a start to changes.
Thank you for taking interest in my case and showing support! It is not easy being abroad alone studying and training so it means alot to know Singaporeans out there have my back!
Cheers,
Elaine
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Oct 25, 2006
Overseas-based triathletes are treated the same
IN THE letter, 'Predicament of national triathlete based abroad' (ST, Oct 16), Miss Elaine Chan Mei Xian lamented that national athletes stationed abroad have been disadvantaged and hence not selected for competitions.
While we understand Miss Chan's frustrations, we wish to clarify that although part of the National Training Squad, she is not one of our best performers and, as resources are limited, we are unable to provide her with the training grant of $1,500 a month which she had requested. Currently, only the 2005 SEA Games gold medallist has been given a training subsidy raised by the Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS).
It is also untrue that Miss Chan's e-mail messages went unanswered. She had sent an e-mail to a TAS staff member who had left but another staff member retrieved it and replied to her, albeit three days later.
After that first e-mail exchange, our national coach has been corresponding with her and she was well aware of the situation both TAS and herself are in.
We are therefore saddened that Miss Chan chose to accuse TAS of 'sidelining athletes who go overseas'. Overseas-based athletes are treated the same and fair.
We are also responsible for promoting the sport and are proud that triathlon has mass appeal today, compared to some years ago, when it was a niche sport.
Our marquee event, the Osim Singapore International Triathlon, has attracted increased participation. This year, we saw a record 3,000 entries. The upcoming Osim Singapore Corporate Triathlon, which will be held on Nov 4, also shows our active promotion of the sport.
As a national sports association, we must not only produce medals, but also promote the sport, in line with healthy living.
We trust that we have explained ourselves and wish Miss Chan all the best in her education and training stint in Melbourne.
We would like to encourage her to discuss with TAS further on the issues she raised as we have always kept our lines open with all overseas triathletes and looked forward to their support.
Mark Tay
President
Triathlon Association of Singapore
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27/10 Tri Fam online forum
I was appalled to read the letter Mark Tay wrote into ST Forum “Overseas Triathlete still treated the same” (25 Oct). There were many baseless assertions.
This is disappointing because TAS, such a reputable NSA has to resot to false, base-less claims about the situation instead of looking for ways to improve the situation.
I have not been contacted since the letter was published – is this an indication that they are ignoring the ways to improve the situation but more concern with their image – patching up that dent in their reputation. While reputation is important, I have been objective and fair and factual in what i have said so far.
Firstly, “she is not one of our best performers” We can do a comparison of race results and judge. And this is not even an issue we are discussing.
Secondly, “we are unable to provide her with the training grant of $1,500 a month which she had requested.” I have never asked for a specific amount of money. All I ever mentioned was “financial support”. I have kept all email correspondence for evidence.
Thirdly, “It is also untrue that Miss Chan's e-mail messages went unanswered. She had sent an e-mail to a TAS staff member who had left but another staff member retrieved it and replied to her, albeit three days later. “ While she has replied a few of my emails many days later and after several telephone enquiries, many of them had gone unanswered. Once again, I have email proof of this. Besides, her email replies to me were often vague and did not answer my specific enquiries. This is not her fault as I understand she is new and has to consult the TAS management. My emails addressed to coach and mark tay were not answered.
Fourthly, “our national coach has been corresponding with her and she was well aware of the situation both TAS and herself are in.” From the two emails the national coach has sent me, compared to the 6emails I sent him His 2 emails to me were “I'm glad to hear from you. Hope you everything going with a swing!” and “As a national coach, I am quite disappointed at your activities! Please pay attention to your words and deeds to the public!” This does not say anything about the situation in TAS. In fact, it says nothing at all except that TAS is more concern about their image than about helping me, as seen in the latter email.
Fifth, “Miss Chan chose to accuse TAS of 'sidelining athletes who go overseas'. Overseas-based athletes are treated the same and fair.” I would challenge TAS to provide evidence for their assertions. If TAS supports its overseas triathletes, I note with surprise that all the national athletes that have gone overseas were are no longer the team, even though some of them continue to train hard overseas. Can TAS list the overseas athletes they are currently supporting? And show us how they have been treated equally.
Sixth, I agree that TAS has done a good job in promoting triathlon in Singapore today, but this is not an issue in contention.
I am greatly disappointed with TAS’ handling of the situation. No mention has been made of my suggestions to improve the situation. I was not even contacted for my views and no effort was made to understand my plight, despite my emails suggesting we should move ahead and improve. That went unanswered by the staff member at TAS, and the President Mark Tay himself.
I have always tried to discuss matters with TAS, however they have not engaged me.
Well, also, I have been scolded for questioning the TAS management and policies. democratic huh?
Elaine
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National Coach organised a meeting for NTS and parents about my letter to ST, without informing me or my parents. They did after dad enquired about it.
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based on what I've heard about the meeting -
Mark and coach sat down to discuss with me before i left? NO. I requested a meeting but they did not acceed to it, and did not discuss any plans with me. I did speak to coach, he said he will support my decision to go to melb and my trg. Shaun Nik did not reply my email abt it, except to tell me TAS will not support me and i haf 6mths to get my training going n inform them of races in Aust.
6mths to do 2.20? This is the first time i'm hearing that. so far none of us have done 2.20, or can do it now. Only mok. so only 1 person on national team?? I thought they have to maintain a certain no. of ppl on the team? Am i the only one who has to meet this timing? Oh yes, actually I have done it - in mekong in march. So is that counted? will there be a time trial? this better be a fair criteria.
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i bot this red n white one from Supre. dman nice rite? yea, supre is kinda common in Melb but oh wells, i buy frm here to wear in s'pore.
din buy this one, coz its not worth 60bucks i think. oh wells.
this is frm valley girl. 20bucks only. i wore it out shopping with cenna. haha. n i noticed that my hips are damn big. I called them flowerpot hips, but cenna says they're "childbearing hips" =( oh wells, at least there's some value. if this were 30yrs back, it'll be considered attractive! the sunnies are new frm Sportsgirl.
i bot this red n white one from Supre. dman nice rite? yea, supre is kinda common in Melb but oh wells, i buy frm here to wear in s'pore.
din buy this one, coz its not worth 60bucks i think. oh wells.
this is frm valley girl. 20bucks only. i wore it out shopping with cenna. haha. n i noticed that my hips are damn big. I called them flowerpot hips, but cenna says they're "childbearing hips" =( oh wells, at least there's some value. if this were 30yrs back, it'll be considered attractive! the sunnies are new frm Sportsgirl.
