It was mentioned that while coaching will be provided, students will be expected to pay for their sports gear.

Why the half-measure? If the aim is to produce world-class athletes, let's support them all the way.

In another article, 'State sports system is China's secret to success' (ST, Jan 5), table tennis world champion Zhang Yi-ning was quoted as saying:

'I have never bought a single bat or pair of shoes since I started playing table tennis at the age of five... Everything was taken care of by the country and I have never worried about other problems. I only need to concentrate on table tennis.'

So it should be with Singapore students whose parents enrol them in the new sports centres, a decision which will come with a heavy commitment of time, effort and money (parents' money) beyond what is already spent on studies and co-curricular activities.

Quality sports gear to help a budding athlete excel in today's increasingly competitive and sophisticated sporting arena does not come cheap.

The last thing we want to weigh heavily on the minds of the 11-year-olds and their parents (especially those from the lower- and middle-income segments of society), as they decide to make the necessary sacrifices to devote themselves to sports excellence, is whether they can afford the sports gear they will need in the sports centres.

Even if they can afford the gear, my years spent managing sports teams have shown me that there is nothing like receiving a set of quality sports gear to tell an athlete he is valued, lift his morale and bring a smile to a face worn by hours of rigorous training.

Pang Thiam Chuah