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HARD STRUGGLE: Zhang Guirong, who has been juggling training and work part time, confessed she was not ready for the Olympic games. -- ST FILE PHOTO
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THE story last Friday about Singapore's Olympian shot-putter Zhang Guirong and her financial difficulties is reflective of our success in importing foreign athletes to shore up our performance in international competition ('Nowhere near ready').
There are misgivings by many Singaporeans over the policy to import foreign talent. This has been done by various national sports associations in order to show success when these foreign recruits win medals for Singapore.
But when they win, do Singaporeans really feel proud that it is our society and our system that have produced these winners? Public acceptance is made more difficult when some of these foreign sports talents squabble with national sports associations over money instead of showing that loyalty and sacrifice come first for the country of their adoption.
Of course athletes, imported or local, should be nurtured and well provided for, but they should also show their commitment to the country without seeming to be mercenaries. Our national sports associations would do well to be more selective in recruiting foreign athletes and consider putting character and commitment as prime criteria for selection to represent Singapore.
If we cannot find this type of athlete I would rather have none, even if that means we will never win an Olympic medal.
Ho Beng Huat
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