Pole vaulter Yang pulls out of Asian C’ships after Hong Kong fiasco

SINGAPORE — Earlier this month at the Thailand Open, an administrative muddle between the event organisers and Singapore Athletics (SA) left national pole vaulter Rachel Yang and her husband-cum-coach David Yeo waiting at the airport in Bangkok for over two hours before they were picked up by their liaison officer.

Two weeks later, on Monday, following Yang’s participation at the Hong Kong Inter-City Athletics Championships last weekend, the pair suffered the consequences of another administrative error.

This time, they could not check in their sporting equipment — 10 five-metre long poles — for their Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight back home, as no prior arrangements had been made with the national carrier.

Yang’s trip to Hong Kong was arranged by SA’s sport development and performance (SDP) team, which works with a shared service provider for national sports associations called eSERV to manage athletes’ trips for overseas competitions.

The couple had to spend the night at the Hong Kong International Airport’s hotel after they could not find any other flights to take their equipment back to Singapore.

They eventually returned home yesterday afternoon after national distance running coach Ghana Segaran, and former national sprinter Poh Seng Song, now an SIA pilot, managed to get another SIA flight for them and their equipment. TODAY understands the cost incurred from their additional night’s stay — amounting to about S$600 — was absorbed by SIA.

Nonetheless, Yang, who also fell ill in Hong Kong, has been left scarred and drained by these two incidents. As a result, she has decided to pull out of next month’s Asian Athletics Championships in India, and will also not take part in any overseas competitions from now till the South-east Asian (SEA) Games.

The 35-year-old told TODAY that she will remain in Singapore to train for the SEA Games, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur in August, as she does not want to run the risk of being involved in another mix-up that could hinder her preparations.

“Of course these recent incidents have had an impact on preparations (for the SEA Games),” explained Yang, who won a silver at the 2015 Games, and holds the pole vault national record of 3.91m.

“That is why I have asked to pull out of the Asian Championships, because I’m worried about facing another problem like what I’ve encountered this month.

“Already, such mix-ups can happen with short-haul trips to Thailand and Hong Kong, it’s scary to think of what sort of inconveniences could crop up when we have to travel to a more distant country like India.

“Time is running short for us athletes to train for the SEA Games, and I cannot afford to be further side-tracked from my preparations.

“To prevent any more potential distractions, I have decided to remain in Singapore to train.”

For a second day in a row, SA’s SDP team could not be reached for comment regarding this issue.

However, the major Games preparation committee, which was recently formed by national governing sports body Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) to take over the management of SA’s SEA Games athletes, following the emergence of disputes between SA officials, coaches and athletes, has promised to look into the matter.

Said SNOC secretary-general Chris Chan: “It is unfortunate for Rachel to experience a hold-up in Hong Kong, which delayed her return back home. We will find out from SA the details of the incident.

“In such operations and logistics matters, it is key we find out where the gaps are to prevent future mishaps.

“Hopefully we are able to iron them out and manage them for the SEA Games.

“The … committee will be meeting with SA’s SDP team this week to discuss the preparations for the athletes leading to the Games. This will be among the other matters we will discuss and find solutions to.”

SA president Ho Mun Cheong also revealed that he and SA’s management committee could conduct their investigations into the matter once the SEA Games is over. “This case is currently being handled by the major Games operation committee, so we’ll leave it to them for now,” said Ho.

“But after the SEA Games, when we take over again, we’ll definitely look into this and take steps to ensure such things don’t happen again.

“We have to look after our athletes and coaches, and what Rachel has gone through is something that should never have happened. It certainly damages our image as an organisation.”