I CANNOT understand the brouhaha over table-tennis team head coach Liu Guodong's rejection of a new two-year deal offered by the Singapore Table Tennis Association, and paddler Li Jiawei's engagement to a Chinese businessman.

Although both played a key role in helping Singapore win a silver at the Beijing Olympics, there were other factors, such as good training amenities, proper administration and the support of fans.

If they have decided not to stick with Singapore, despite having been well taken care of, there is nothing much the country can do.

Singapore must not allow them to hold the country ransom just because their services are now sought after elsewhere.

Pandering to their demands will cause unhappiness and impede the sport's progress.

The various sports associations have been recruiting foreigners to improve the standards of their games under the Foreign Sports Talent scheme.

It saddens me to know that although these sportsmen and women are granted Singapore citizenship, along with other benefits, some have no qualms about leaving our country for good.

These people are opportunists. They have the notion that Singapore needs them more than they need Singapore.

It is time sports associations took stock of this sorry state of affairs.

Granting foreign athletes citizenship so that they can represent Singapore internationally is not a good option.

Mr Jeffrey Law Lee Beng

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