MELVYNNA TAMBUNAN (Non-selection for South East Asian Games)

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MELVYNNA TAMBUNAN:

(Non-selection for South East Asian Games): 14.

Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports why Melvynna Tambunan, a medal hopeful in the next South East Asian Games in Manila, should be prevented from representing Singapore just because she is not a member of a judo club.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Sir, the

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selection of athletes to represent Singapore at major games, such as the South East Asian (SEA) Games and the Olympics, is done by the Singapore National Olympic Council, based on nominations submitted by the National Sports Associations (NSAs). In the case of judo, the Singapore Judo Federation (SJF) makes the nominations.

The SJF bases its selection criteria on several key factors, such as participation in local and international competitions, regular attendance at national team training, and the athlete's commitment to the sport. Whether the athlete is a member of an SJF-affiliated judo club or not is one of the factors that is also taken into account, as the judo clubs help to ensure a certain acceptable minimum standard of training and performance.

Ms Melvynna Tambunan, at 24, is a four-time national Under-57 kg champion. I understand from the SJF that Melvynna was not selected for the national team for the upcoming SEA Games because she only made herself available to participate in one of the two stipulated international competitions. This was inadequate for the Federation's coaches to sufficiently assess her performance. Furthermore, Melvynna did not attend the national team's training sessions regularly in spite of having clearly been told to do so. Her non-selection was not due to her not being a member of a judo club.

I hope Melvynna will not be too disheartened but rather continue to train hard and perform well in competitions. This will put her in a strong position for selection for the national team for future games.

Mr Sin Boon Ann: Sir, does the SNOC leave the decision of whether or not a sportsman is able to represent a country entirely to the decision of the club or the federation which nominates him or her?

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Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, by and large, the selection of the national team is left to the NSAs because they know the athletes and the sports best. The national coaches identify, train and groom athletes on a regular basis and can better understand each athlete's strengths and weaknesses so that SNOC relies on the recommendations of the respective NSAs because of the domain knowledge the NSAs have.

At some point when the SNOC makes a decision, each NSA has its own appeal process that each athlete can go through to appeal for reconsideration to be recommended for selection at the SNOC.

Mr Sin Boon Ann: Sir, is the SNOC entirely satisfied that the selection and nomination by the various NSAs are carried out objectively and without prejudice or bias?

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, I believe, at this point in time, SNOC is satisfied that the processes have been given due consideration. I think every NSA, as I have mentioned, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) provides a code of governance with regard to issues including the selection and recommendation of sports persons. In this particular case, I was informed that the NSA has offered the particular athlete to appeal for reconsideration and the athlete has decided not to appeal to the respective NSA.

Mr Sin Boon Ann: I am sorry to be belabouring this point. I just want to know whether or not the SNOC independently satisfies itself that the process has been transparently and objectively carried out.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, as I have mentioned earlier, I believe the SNOC is satisfied that every athlete has followed through the different criteria that it has set forth. Every NSA has broad

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criteria that require each athlete to go through before a recommendation is made, basically, from participation in international competition to attendance at national training sessions. So, I think SNOC looks into each NSA's recommendation and leaves it to the NSA.

On Mr Sin's query whether SNOC goes into each and every NSA's procedure and to be convinced that each NSA has gone through the due process, at this point in time, I believe they have, but I have to go back to SNOC again to request them to give us an indication whether they are satisfied that every NSA has gone through specific processes that they have put in place.

Mr Sin Boon Ann: I would be grateful if the Parliamentary Secretary can confirm that the SNOC would independently verify that the specific processes are indeed carried out.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: I give Mr Sin the assurance that we will get back to the SNOC, and SNOC will then subsequently let us know that it has gone through the due process and evaluated each and every recommendation from the NSAs appropriately.