No more Olympic wildcard fiascos in future, pledges athletics chief Ho

SINGAPORE — Fraught with controversy, unhappiness and an 11th-hour about-turn, Singapore Athletics’ (SA) wildcard selection for the Olympic Games was eventually sorted out early this month when the national sports association handed the spot to sprinter Timothee Yap.

Newly elected athletics chief Ho Mun Cheong — who defeated lawyer Edmond Pereira in a hotly contested election last month — insisted this week that the wildcard debacle will now be a thing of the past. SA has appointed honorary assistant secretary Tan Ming Jen the chairman of its Athletes’ Commission, which will comprise a panel of former and current athletes. This will help in facilitating discussion and dialogue with the athletes on issues such as selection criteria for major Games and meets.

Unhappiness over the wildcard had initially stemmed from the previous management committee’s ­selection criteria, which considered national record breakers and SEA Games results. Tweaks were made soon after Ho and his team came on board, as they took reference from the International Association of Athletics Federations points system. 

Ho admitted that they should have communicated the reasons ­behind their decision to the athletes, as some were unhappy with the change.

“For the wildcard, we did not ­explain it (amended selection criteria) properly to the athletes and we did not clarify it,” said Ho on the sidelines of SA’s appreciation dinner for former president Tang Weng Fei at Keppel Club on Thursday night (July 21).

“Now, all the criteria will be spelt out clearly. We will talk to the athletes, have them give their own ­explanation, work it out and come up with a selection criteria.”

With the Olympics wildcard selection out of the way, the newly elected management committee will turn their focus to the upcoming SEA Games in Malaysia next year. Ho said the goal is for Team Singapore to better their haul of three gold, three silver and three bronze medals  from the 2015 edition in Singapore. 

“We are looking at increasing the quantity of medals, and so far we have a few with potential — Mok Ying Ren and Soh Rui Yong in the marathon, our thrower (Zhang Guirong), (2015 SEA Games gold medallist) Shanti Pereira, 400m runner Zubin (Muncherji), and our men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams,” he said.

“Of course, the SEA Games will be tough. Dr Balasekaran (vice-president, training and selection) has been tasked with putting together a training squad, and it has to be done immediately.”

While former chief Tang ­announced ahead of the election that he would be stepping down due to the in-fighting among the management committee, Ho stressed that the ­association’s woes are over with a new team on board. 

Plans for the next two years ­include organising more events to generate revenue for SA, with a half marathon mooted for next year. They are also exploring the idea of an athletics circuit event that will travel through Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of South-east Asia. 

Added Ho: “These people (committee) have the passion, and they are willing to spend time and effort to try and bring up the standard of track and field. We have to walk the talk.”

Thursday night’s appreciation dinner was attended by SA’s management committee members and secretariat, affiliates, members of the sports fraternity, and International Olympic Committee member Ng Ser Miang.