High drama followed Singapore's first Olympic medal win in 48 years when table tennis player Gao Ning had to compete without a coach on the side.

The saga ended with the Table Tennis Association's president, Lee Bee Wah , making a public apology, after she had earlier warned about firing the team manager and terminating the head coach.

While the incident has left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth, there is a silver lining to the episode, said some National Sports Associations that Channel NewsAsia spoke to.

Jeffery Leow, president, Singapore Swimming, said: "The public is not aware of the full information and full background, so they often shoot from the hip. So we all have to be sensitive to public perception and how the public will take any decision that we make. This has been reinforced by this particular incident."

Others said the Table Tennis Association should consider adopting certain best practices that were not adhered to in this case. These include management interference with those tasked to do their job.

And with the resolution, members of the public said it is time to move on.

Leon Overee, said: "We should think before we do anything and we shouldn't be too rash in our decision."

Channel NewsAsia understands that the new president who took office a month before the Olympics, has big plans to improve the sport, but remains mum for now.

Mdm Lee, who is in the middle of this entire controversy, once again declined to be interviewed.

She said that she would prefer for the whole episode to cool off before she talks to the media. But she has also given the assurance that over the next one to two weeks, she will be revealing the future plans for the association. - CNA/vm