Coaches should rightfully accompany their athletes to major competitions, especially the Olympics.
However, the Malaysia Athletics Federation seems to have a different view. The national body is keen to send a state official instead of coach Aleksandar Gasparyan to accompany high jumper Lee Hup Wei to the Tokyo Olympics.
Lee, coached by Gasparyan, has booked his place for the Summer Games as he is ranked 19th in the world. The top 32 will compete in Japan.
Twentytwo13 editor Haresh Deol had, in his latest column in Malay-language news website Getaran published on Thursday, said the Tokyo Olympics is different due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s an edition that is challenging both mentally and emotionally,” wrote Haresh.
There will be representatives from the National Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Malaysia at the Summer Games.
MAF has downplayed the matter, stating the official it intends to send knows the laws of the game, has 40 years of experience and is fluent in English.
Haresh asked: “Is MAF trying to imply that the representatives from NSC and OCM do not know the laws of the game, have no experience and don’t speak proper English?”
“Why wasn’t Lee given the opportunity to give his views regarding who should go?”
Haresh wrote that Lee would want his coach to be with him and has met NSC officials to state his case.
“I sympathise with Lee. He should be focusing on the Olympics. This is an unwanted distraction.
“If Lee, without his coach, fails to perform in Tokyo, will MAF and its officials be responsible for the failure?” Haresh asked.
Read the column on getaran.my.
