S’pore on the right track to sporting success with foreign-born players
I disagree with the letter “Continued reliance on China-born paddlers is worrying” (Aug 14).
I disagree with the letter “Continued reliance on China-born paddlers is worrying” (Aug 14).
We are on the right track in the search for foreign-born players willing to represent Singapore, in all sports and not only table tennis.
This year, I watched the World Team Table Tennis Championships, the China, Korea and Japan Opens and the Commonwealth Games, in which our national paddlers participated.
The competition was so fiery and nerve-wracking that I have come to the conclusion that no amount of effort by our local-born paddlers can win us a medal in such competitions.
The innate skill and physical development of the Chinese-born players, which our local players lack, make the difference, apart from intense training.
For years, Singapore has been on the world stage because of our naturalised players such as Feng Tianwei, Yu Mengyu, Gao Ning and Zhan Jian, to name a few who have brought honour and glory to Singapore.
To develop a sport to world standards, there should be no limitations. A good example is the United States, a powerful sporting country. Many of its national athletes are not local-born.
The US is not constrained by national borders and is ready to accept, and even grab, talent.