Stta chief: We need foreigners to win medals for us or sponsors will be unhappy

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

STTA CHIEF: WE NEED FOREIGNERS TO WIN MEDALS FOR US OR SPONSORS WILL BE UNHAPPY


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5 Jan 2015 - 12:23pm








Table Tennis in Singapore is flooded with foreign players from China who convert to Singapore citizenship to compete for Singapore and win medals.

While this has resulted in numerous medals won at various international tournaments, Singaporeans have repeatedly expressed their concerns about the fact that local talents are being cast aside.

There is a lack of support for the foreign born players that many Singaporeans feel have just been imported to win for us.

Despite the low support and obvious dissatisfaction, PAP MP for Nee Soon GRC, Ellen Lee, who just recently took over the position of President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) from Fellow Nee Soon GRC member Lee Bee Wah, doesn’t have any plans to reduce the number of foreign born players.

In fact, in an interview with Straits Times, Ellen Lee even indicated that they need to continue importing foreign talent to win medals for Singapore in order to keep the sponsors happy.

She also indicated that Singaporeans simply aren’t good enough to win the medals in international competitions.

“For us, we cannot afford to lose… the bar is (already) there, and that is our minimal responsibility to our sponsors. We cannot let our sponsors down” she had said.

“For the time being, it’s necessary to tap on the foreign-born players. It’ll be a lie to say otherwise.”







It is clear that money talks and is still the priority in local sports. STTA is one of the most well-funded sports associations in Singapore but not all of the money is used to develop young and local talent.

In fact, last year at an STTA fundraiser, Former president Lee Bee Wah indicated that some of the money raised would go toward the retirement of former players, even if they have quit and gone back to China like Li Jiawei.

The new President, Ellen Lee is also in denial about the level of dissatisfaction with foreign players as she said that she feels it is just a handful of vocal people who are against Foreign born players.

She said, “The sentiments will always be there. It’s always the few more vocal ones that will evoke people’s angst.” She also said that these people are just “distractions”.

Since she is the new president of STTA and she had made it clear that they intend to keep bringing in the foreign players, it looks like there aren’t going to be any changes in the near future and dissenting voices will continue to be brushed aside.

What do you think?


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