SINGAPORE — It was barely four months ago that a high-profile coaching dispute involving top national paddlers erupted, followed by an unceremonious sacking of the men’s team head coach, Yang Chuanning, with the women’s head coach Jing Junhong also redeployed to another role in youth development.

But at the Keppel-STTA (Singapore Table Tennis Association) awards night on Friday (Feb 19), with new head coaches of the men’s and women’s teams – Liu Jiayi and Chen Zhibin, respectively – at the helm, the table tennis fraternity are united in their desire to put the dispute firmly behind them.

With the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur coming later this month, and the Olympics looming in August, STTA president Ellen Lee said the onus is now on the paddlers to “repay the faith and investment” put in them.

“They (national paddlers) must prove to us that they do justice to the faith that we have put in them, as well as the investments we have pumped into them,” Lee said. “We have faith that the athletes want to do what is right for the country.

“The fact that everyone has put in so much effort to introduce the changes that they wanted, and the fact that their requests have been met, they have to reciprocate.”

At Friday’s awards night - attended by guest-of-honour Tan Chuan-Jin, the Minister for Social and Family Development and president of the Singapore National Olympic Council - women’s paddler Feng Tianwei was named the Keppel-STTA Sportswoman of the Year 2015. Gao Ning was honoured as the Sportsman of the Year.

Feng, 29, said that the appointment of former world no.5 Chen as the new women’s team head coach has helped boost her confidence that she can win another medal at the Rio Olympics.

Feng, who is trying to arrest a poor run of results which include several upsets by lower-ranked players, said she is still grappling with injuries. But she vowed to manage her aches with training as there is no time to lose.

“The new coach has helped with my confidence. He brings with him new concepts and a new style of play, and I am hopeful that he will bring our standard of play to another level,” the three-time Olympic medallist said.

“The Rio Olympics would be my third Olympics (2008 – silver, women’s team event, 2012 – two bronze medals in women’s singles and women’s team event), and it will be a new challenge, but I believe I can still win another medal.

“I am also trying to get used to the new balls (old celluloid balls were replaced by new poly balls since last July). Every time changes to the game are made, there will be players who have breakthroughs, and players who fall into obscurity. I hope I belong to the group who can have a breakthrough.”

KEPPEL-STTA AWARD WINNERS 2015
Sportsman of the Year: Gao Ning

Sportswoman of the Year: Feng Tianwei

Outstanding Coach of the Year: Jin Junhong

Supportive Coach of the Year: Liu Jiayi

Team of the Year: Men’s national team

Young Player of the Year: Lin Ye

Young Achiever of the Year: Clarence Chew

Special Award of the Year: Lin Ye, Zhou Yihan, Feng Tianwei, Yu Mengyu, Yang Zi

Commendation Award: Wang Xiang, Hao Anlin