Liu Guodong, who helped Singapore win its first Olympic medal in 48 years, is
to quit as coach of the women's national table tennis team.
He has turned down a new two-year contract offered to him by the Singapore
Table Tennis Association (STTA), local daily The Straits Times reported on
Tuesday.
Speaking to the newspaper over the telephone on Monday, Liu, who is now on a
short break in South Korea, called the contract "insulting and insincere."
The 34-year-old said the salary he was being offered did not match his
expectations, however he maintained that its was not about the money, "it's
about recognition and respect for the contributions I have made to Singapore."
"What they have put on the table is simply insulting and insincere. They are
forcing me to leave."
He said the new deal would also take away many of the decision-making powers
that a head coach should have.
"Under the new contract, the STTA would have overall control over the
direction of the team. If I don't have any say, I can't deliver results. And if
I can't deliver results, there is no point in me staying on," he was quoted as
saying by the newspaper.
The Chinese coach, who joined Singapore team in 2006, will now serve his last
day on Dec. 31.