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SAA bars local athletes because invitation was not routed through it

By May Chen

SEVERAL top local track and field athletes' move to compete in the Pahang Open on Saturday has come to a screeching halt.

The Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) decided not to sanction the outing for the likes of national 100m record-holder Amanda Choo, claiming it did not receive any invitation from the organisers of the Pahang Open.

Said C. Veeramani, technical director of the SAA: 'There needs to be an official invitation from one body to another when such Open championships are concerned.

'If it is not done, it is hard for the SAA to sanction the outing. What happened in the past did not follow official protocol and we want to change that.'

The International Association of Athletics Federations rules state that anyone who wants to participate in an overseas championship must seek the permission of the national body.

Fourteen athletes from the Wings Athletic Club (WAC) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) received the bad news last weekend.

Sprint Dynamics Sports Consultancy, a company providing coaching services to junior athletes, was told by the meet organisers that the athletes 'did not have the SAA's blessings to participate at the Pahang Open'.

It was slated to send 10 athletes.

The athletic clubs and coaches are unhappy, claiming the SAA failed to explain its decision to them.

Said WAC's president Melvin Tan: 'We followed the same procedures as we did for previous overseas meets. We informed the SAA through e-mail of the intention of the outing, who is going and the athletes' recent results.'

R. Annamalai, honorary secretary of the Pahang Amateur Athletic Association, said he also informed the SAA after receiving the applications from Singapore.

'I made a courtesy call to the SAA but was told that the association would not give its permission.'

He maintained that an invitation was sent to the SAA following a request by the Wings Athletic Club. But the SAA insisted it did not receive the invitation.

Veeramani said: 'We are reviewing the administrative protocol required and will soon be sending all our affiliates the documentation stating what is required for such applications in the future.'

The SAA's decision means the athletes - who include former national long jump record-holder Wang Kan - will miss an important preparatory competition with the South-east Asia Games in Laos just six months away.

Said Choo: 'It's disappointing, especially since this was supposed to be my first overseas competition of the year. It's important because it's a chance to race with top runners in the region.'

The Pahang Open is set to feature 34 national athletes from Malaysia. Most of them are likely to compete in December's SEA Games.

Tan said: 'Our athletes are working hard to qualify for the SEA Games, and they need overseas competitions to gauge their preparation against athletes in the region. They can't just keep racing among themselves locally.

'Even if they keep winning locally, it only means they are kings of the kampung.'

maychen@sph.com.sg

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'I made a courtesy call to the SAA but was told that the association would not give its permission.'

R. ANNAMALAI, honorary secretary of the Pahang Amateur Athletic Association

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