Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Gymnastics Association (SGA) regretted the claims by the Sabah Schools Sports Council (MSSS) that the services of foreign coaches were not used to train the Sabah MSSS gymnasts who won nine gold medals in the recent national-level competition in Malacca.SGA Secretary Nikki Tan described the MSSS statement as misleading, saying that the Japanese coach from Hokkaido, Yuriko Matsunaga, had been instrumental in training of the girls before they were "drafted" into the MSSS training programme.
"So why did MSSS Secretary Tham Yun Fook made the claims that our gymnasts were never trained by foreign coaches?" she asked.
She pointed out that Yuriko had been coaching gold medallist Lau Li Kin and other gymnasts, including Yvette Jeffrey, Ivawna Lo, Tan Lii Ern, Lim Pei Ern, Hannah Moujing, Stannia Chong and Jolly Chin prior to them being absorbed into the MSSS training programme.
"She (Yuriko) trained the girls almost everyday, and even introduced new exercise routines to them.
"But to our dismay, MSSS did not even bother to accord due credit to Yuriko. This certainly is a very sad development, especially to the coach and association," she said.
In the championship, Sabah won second place behind champions Kuala Lumpur, with nine gold medals, a silver and bronze medal.
In addition, the contingent also won fifth place and a bronze medal in the Group Exercise events, in the Under-12 and Under-15 categories, respectively.
Li Kin won nine gold medals in the ball, rope, clubs, ribbon and overall champions categories.
"The association is very proud of Li Kin who has proven that she is in a class of her own," she said, adding that the association commended her for the excellent performance.
On other developments, Nikki claimed that the Sabah MSSS had been biased in the selection process of athletes prior to the MSSM championship.
"I can assure you that they have been very biased because some of the girls were not even given a proper trial," she said.
She said the MSSS should be fair to the gymnasts as they had high hopes of taking part in the championship.
On Ivawna Lo, Tan Lii Ern and Lim Pei Ern, she said the trio were not given the opportunity to compete in other routines in the recent MSSS championship since they were only allowed to do routine performances instead of competing.
She asked whether they had been blacklisted by the MSSS simply for their status as juniors.
"They are more than eligible to compete in the championship. Their talents have been wasted. The medal tally in the championship could have been more," she said, adding that it is certainly very saddening not only for the gymnasts but also to the sport as a whole.
"If not for the interference of parents, many more gymnasts would surely have been left out," she said adding that eight parents wrote to the respective schools on the matter.
In the meet, MSSS sent Lam Ying Xian, Emily Ku Jia Chee, Lim Syn Ee, Lim Ee Ee, Ng Jes See, Koh Yuen Shin, Margaret Zefrinus Wong, Chai Wan Wam, Ang Sim Yee, Lim Bow Ee, Winnier Wee Nyuk Ling, Michelle Lim and Lim Er Yi.
