FORMER national head coach Liu Guodong is furious that the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) cast doubt on his integrity after it refused to nominate him for this year's Singapore Sports Awards.

The 34-year-old said he was angry and 'insulted', after learning that the association - in a letter to the Singapore National Olympic Council - questioned his character and ability to earn the respect of his players.

He said, she said WHAT THE EX-COACH SAID 'What exactly is wrong with my integrity and character? What they said is nonsense and extremely insulting.' ... more STTA Ungracious: Readers AN UNGRACIOUS act. This was how many Singaporeans viewed the Singapore Table Tennis Association's decision not to nominate Liu Guodong for the country's Coach of the Year award. ... more

The letter, which was sent to the SNOC last week, spelt out several reasons for the coach being overlooked for the prestigious Coach of the Year award.

It is understood that the letter said Liu had failed to meet expectations in terms of professionalism, sense of ethics and ability to command players' respect.

It also criticised his coaching philosophy, which, it said, put the interests of the women's team ahead of the men's team - because the women had a better chance of winning an Olympic medal.

Liu, who led the Singapore women's team to a historic silver medal at last year's Beijing Olympics, was clearly upset when he spoke to The Straits Times on Wednesday over the telephone.

In a quivering voice, he said: 'I have never done anything against my conscience when I was Singapore's coach.

'What exactly is wrong with my integrity and character? What they said is nonsense and extremely insulting.'

The Henan native called on the association to clarify its remarks in the letter.

Liu, who is in Yokohama with the Indonesian team for the World Championships, which ended on Tuesday, quit the STTA in a huff last year after a series of run-ins with officials.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.