I didn’t ‘invite’ violence on diving squad, says Yang

Outgoing head coach, Yang Zhuliang, denies reason given by minister, saying an isolated incident involving an assistant coach and Pandelela Rinong was resolved.

PETALING JAYA: The man behind the recent success of the Malaysian diving squad denies ever encouraging or “inviting” any form of violence on his charges, as claimed by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Yang Zhuliang admitted however, that his assistant Huang Qiang did beat Pandelela Rinong as “punishment” for losing a volleyball game, adding the altercation eventually turned into a “fight”, The Malay Mail reported.

Yesterday, Bernama reported Khairy as saying that Yang’s contract as the country’s diving head coach, was not extended due to the existence of a culture and environment of fear among some national diving athletes.

He said Yang had allowed the culture and environment to spread to the point of inviting rape, sexual harassment, violence, beatings, bullying and threats to athletes, even though the Chinese-born coach was not involved in the matter.

A few divers whom the daily spoke to confirmed that Yang had not personally laid a hand on any of the team members.

The National Sports Institute (ISN) announced last week that it would not renew his contract, which would end on Dec 31, as he failed to follow the sports science approach, and due to tensions between him and an ISN officer.

Referring to the Huang-Pandelela incident, Yang told The Malay Mail that he could not recall the exact time it happened, but knew what had transpired.

“They were actually playing volleyball. The rule was the loser would be kicked. However, I did not play. When Pandelela lost, Huang kicked her.

“Pandelela scolded Huang. He asked Pandelela ‘what it was all about’ and she scolded him again.

“Huang lost his temper and kicked Pandelela again. Pandelela took her slippers and brushed it on Huang’s face. They started fighting and both had to be pulled apart by the other divers,” Yang was quoted as saying by the daily.

He added that a meeting was held with everyone being critical of Huang’s behaviour.

“They felt he should not have acted that way because he was a coach. He needed to be patient and I criticised Huang too,” he said, according to Malay Mail.

Yang added that following the incident, there was a ban on side activities and games involving coaches and athletes.

“No jokes too, because athletes will lose the respect for their coaches. They will develop a relationship as friends.

“From then on, no volleyball games and no losing party getting kicked. We stopped that game,” Yang said.

The diving head coach, whose efforts had seen Malaysia win its first ever diving silver medal at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last year, also said he is ready to go, despite being asked to stay on by some of his charges.

“I will leave. I’m just waiting for my contract to expire. It’s time to be with the family,” he was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail. -FMT