SINGAPORE: An appeal by swimmer Quah Ting Wen for a spot in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris has been rejected by the sport's national governing body Singapore Aquatics (SAQ), the 31-year-old confirmed with CNA on Monday (July 8).
She received an email, seen by CNA, at about 10pm on Sunday informing her of the decision.
Quah’s name was missing from the 22-athlete list at the Team Singapore flag presentation ceremony on Saturday, while swimmer Gan Ching Hwee was included.
Gan is set to replace Quah in the women’s 4x100m medley relay at the Paris Games.
The move left Quah confused and frustrated, as she had received initial confirmation of her place at this year's Olympics, in what would have been her fourth outing.
Quah said that she had signed documents by SAQ and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) confirming her participation in the Olympics on Thursday.
“After signing everything on Thursday, I took out my luggage and I was like, let’s get going (to Paris),” she said.
As a result, the initial omission from the team came as a shock to Quah when she first heard about it on Friday, a move that confused her given its “last minute” nature.
In February 2024, Singapore women's 4x100 medley team – (from left) Quah Ting Wen, Quah Jing Wen, Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim – set a new national record and qualified for the Paris Olympics. (Photo: Instagram/Team Singapore)
As a team, Quah, with sister Jing Wen and national teammates Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim, met the Olympic qualifying criteria for the 4x100m medley relay at the world championships in February.
Of the four swimmers, Letitia was the only one who met the "A" cut, in the 100m breaststroke. Unlike the individual events, there are no Olympic “A” cut times for relay qualification.
As such, global governing body World Aquatics granted Singapore an exemption to allow three relay-only swimmers to compete instead of the maximum of two.
However, World Aquatics later offered Gan an invitation to participate in the women’s 1,500m event based on her Olympic consideration time – or Olympic “B” cut – of 16:10.61 clocked earlier this month.
Swimmers automatically qualify for the Games if they meet the Olympic qualifying time, or “A” cut, and may be invited to compete if they meet the “B” cut.
World Aquatics then offered Singapore the choice between sending Quah or Gan, who is also entitled to compete in up to two individual events.
SAQ chose Gan, a decision that led to Quah's appeal.
Quah noted that it was ironic that she had helped Singapore qualify for the relay but will not be taking part, as it stands.
“I was the one of the four to get Singapore’s first relay team to the Olympics, but the same team will likely not be competing at Paris,” she said.
Quah said that SAQ had told her soon after rejecting her appeal on Sunday that it was lodging a separate appeal with World Aquatics to enable both Gan and Quah to participate in the Olympics.
Quah said that the current selection controversy had happened before, back in 2021 when she was also vying for selection with Gan for the Tokyo Olympics that year.
Back then, there was again a dispute over whether to send Quah or Gan. A Singapore Swimming Association (as SAQ was then known) committee initially picked Gan, but it was Quah who went to Japan instead after an appeal.
Quah told CNA her gripe was not over who participates in the Olympics, but rather over how she had received confirmation of her spot only to have it taken away.
“It is how this is not the first time this is happening that is the most frustrating part,” she said.
Notwithstanding the manner in which the world governing body allots Olympic spots, she said, SAQ could have been clearer and and more definitive on who it would be sending for the Games.
“I will say the same thing that I said three years ago: I do not want this to ever have to affect anyone again,” she said.
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She received an email, seen by CNA, at about 10pm on Sunday informing her of the decision.
Quah’s name was missing from the 22-athlete list at the Team Singapore flag presentation ceremony on Saturday, while swimmer Gan Ching Hwee was included.
Gan is set to replace Quah in the women’s 4x100m medley relay at the Paris Games.
The move left Quah confused and frustrated, as she had received initial confirmation of her place at this year's Olympics, in what would have been her fourth outing.
Quah said that she had signed documents by SAQ and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) confirming her participation in the Olympics on Thursday.
“After signing everything on Thursday, I took out my luggage and I was like, let’s get going (to Paris),” she said.
As a result, the initial omission from the team came as a shock to Quah when she first heard about it on Friday, a move that confused her given its “last minute” nature.
Related:
In February 2024, Singapore women's 4x100 medley team – (from left) Quah Ting Wen, Quah Jing Wen, Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim – set a new national record and qualified for the Paris Olympics. (Photo: Instagram/Team Singapore)
As a team, Quah, with sister Jing Wen and national teammates Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim, met the Olympic qualifying criteria for the 4x100m medley relay at the world championships in February.
Of the four swimmers, Letitia was the only one who met the "A" cut, in the 100m breaststroke. Unlike the individual events, there are no Olympic “A” cut times for relay qualification.
As such, global governing body World Aquatics granted Singapore an exemption to allow three relay-only swimmers to compete instead of the maximum of two.
However, World Aquatics later offered Gan an invitation to participate in the women’s 1,500m event based on her Olympic consideration time – or Olympic “B” cut – of 16:10.61 clocked earlier this month.
Swimmers automatically qualify for the Games if they meet the Olympic qualifying time, or “A” cut, and may be invited to compete if they meet the “B” cut.
World Aquatics then offered Singapore the choice between sending Quah or Gan, who is also entitled to compete in up to two individual events.
SAQ chose Gan, a decision that led to Quah's appeal.
Quah noted that it was ironic that she had helped Singapore qualify for the relay but will not be taking part, as it stands.
“I was the one of the four to get Singapore’s first relay team to the Olympics, but the same team will likely not be competing at Paris,” she said.
Quah said that SAQ had told her soon after rejecting her appeal on Sunday that it was lodging a separate appeal with World Aquatics to enable both Gan and Quah to participate in the Olympics.
NOT THE FIRST TIME
Quah said that the current selection controversy had happened before, back in 2021 when she was also vying for selection with Gan for the Tokyo Olympics that year.
Back then, there was again a dispute over whether to send Quah or Gan. A Singapore Swimming Association (as SAQ was then known) committee initially picked Gan, but it was Quah who went to Japan instead after an appeal.
Quah told CNA her gripe was not over who participates in the Olympics, but rather over how she had received confirmation of her spot only to have it taken away.
“It is how this is not the first time this is happening that is the most frustrating part,” she said.
Notwithstanding the manner in which the world governing body allots Olympic spots, she said, SAQ could have been clearer and and more definitive on who it would be sending for the Games.
“I will say the same thing that I said three years ago: I do not want this to ever have to affect anyone again,” she said.
Continue reading...