KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek hopes to find an amicable solution to enable national gymnast Elaine Koon to make a comeback to the national team.
Ahmad Shabery said the country does not want to lose an athlete who has achieved excellent results at the international stage.
"I hope she (Elaine) will not be easily slighted. It is not easy to produce an athlete who has achieved success, so we have to ensure that athlete can continue producing results," he told reporters after opening the Perpaduan Belia 1Malaysia Festival at Jalan Bukit Bintang here Saturday.
Ahmad Shabery said he was also ready to meet the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) to discuss the matter.
"Elaine is still young and talented and we need gymnasts like her," he said.
The Minister's views and opinion was in contrast to that of National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong who had yesterday accepted Elaine's quit decision.
The New Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medallist was adamant about retiring after claiming that she could not tolerate the verbal abuse from national coach Elena Kholodova who allegedly called her 'prostitute' and 'harlot'.
Elaine, 18, is among those identified as gold medal prospects in the 2011 Indonesia SEA Games.
Ahmad Shabery said the country does not want to lose an athlete who has achieved excellent results at the international stage.
"I hope she (Elaine) will not be easily slighted. It is not easy to produce an athlete who has achieved success, so we have to ensure that athlete can continue producing results," he told reporters after opening the Perpaduan Belia 1Malaysia Festival at Jalan Bukit Bintang here Saturday.
Ahmad Shabery said he was also ready to meet the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) to discuss the matter.
"Elaine is still young and talented and we need gymnasts like her," he said.
The Minister's views and opinion was in contrast to that of National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong who had yesterday accepted Elaine's quit decision.
The New Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medallist was adamant about retiring after claiming that she could not tolerate the verbal abuse from national coach Elena Kholodova who allegedly called her 'prostitute' and 'harlot'.
Elaine, 18, is among those identified as gold medal prospects in the 2011 Indonesia SEA Games.
-- BERNAMA
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