http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...quit-say-squeezed-out/articleshow/7266326.cms
Six Singaporean shuttlers quit, say squeezed out
REUTERS, Jan 12, 2011, 11.22am IST
SINGAPORE: Six badminton players have quit Singapore's national squad a year before the London Olympics, saying they have been squeezed out and left with no choice.
The players had been members of the city-state's national development team recently dissolved by the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) as part of restructuring.
The SBA said its decision to dissolve "Team 2" had been based on an annual performance evaluation.
"I think its a little unfair because I started centralised training only a year ago," Toh Siew Fen told Singapore's Straits Times newspaper. "Its too little time for us to catch up to the standards of Team 1."
In its place, the SBA will form the National Intermediate Squad (NIS) next month for up and coming players.
A few Team 2 shuttlers have been invited to join the new squad, but will no longer be given a monthly allowance or opportunities to compete in overseas tournaments.
"Its as good as having no option," said Eugene Sng, 21. "They are forcing me out. But they don't want to look bad, so on the surface, I have a choice."
Six Singaporean shuttlers quit, say squeezed out
REUTERS, Jan 12, 2011, 11.22am IST
SINGAPORE: Six badminton players have quit Singapore's national squad a year before the London Olympics, saying they have been squeezed out and left with no choice.
The players had been members of the city-state's national development team recently dissolved by the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) as part of restructuring.
The SBA said its decision to dissolve "Team 2" had been based on an annual performance evaluation.
"I think its a little unfair because I started centralised training only a year ago," Toh Siew Fen told Singapore's Straits Times newspaper. "Its too little time for us to catch up to the standards of Team 1."
In its place, the SBA will form the National Intermediate Squad (NIS) next month for up and coming players.
A few Team 2 shuttlers have been invited to join the new squad, but will no longer be given a monthly allowance or opportunities to compete in overseas tournaments.
"Its as good as having no option," said Eugene Sng, 21. "They are forcing me out. But they don't want to look bad, so on the surface, I have a choice."
