Quah Ting Wen's omission from Paris Olympics squad confirmed after World Aquatics rejects Singapore's appeal

SINGAPORE: Swimmer Quah Ting Wen will not be part of Singapore's swimming squad at the upcoming Paris Olympics, the sport's national governing body Singapore Aquatics (SAQ) confirmed on Monday (Jul 8).

Quah was omitted from a 22-athlete list at the Team Singapore flag presentation ceremony on Saturday, despite being part of the women’s 4x100m medley relay team that met the Olympic qualifying criteria in February.

She also signed a document last Thursday, indicating SAQ's invitation to represent Singapore at the Paris Games.

However, after considering various permutations stemming from Olympic qualification rules, SAQ said it decided to send Gan Ching Hwee instead, who will swim in the 4x100m medley relay, in addition to the individual 800m and 1,500m freestyle events.

An appeal by SAQ to World Aquatics for Quah to participate in Paris was rejected by the world body, SAQ said in Monday's statement. 

Following World Aquatics confirmation of the final list of all participants at the Paris Games, SAQ said Singapore will now be represented by a team of five swimmers competing in seven events in Paris:

• Men's 50m and 100m freestyle (Jonathan Tan)
• Women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke (Letitia Sim)
• Women’s 800m and 1,500m freestyle (Gan)
• Women’s 4x100m medley relay (Levenia Sim, Letitia Sim, Quah Jing Wen and Gan)

"It would have been ideal if we could have sent six athletes to the Games," said SAQ president Mark Chay.

"We made our case to World Aquatics that in addition to the two OQT swimmers and an OCT swimmer, sending the relay team that met the Olympics qualifying position would allow Singapore to send our best possible swimmers to the Olympics."

The OQT refers to the Olympic Qualifying Time, commonly known as the "A" cut while the OCT is the Olympics Consideration Time, also known as the "B" cut.

Tan and Letitia Sim qualified for the Olympics via the "A" cut route, while Gan was offered an invitation, having made the "B" cut.

APPEAL BY QUAH

Quah's omission from Saturday's list left her confused and frustrated, she said, as she had received initial confirmation of her place at this year's Olympics, in what would have been her fourth outing.

Quah said that she had signed documents by SAQ and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) confirming her participation in the Olympics on Thursday. 

“After signing everything on Thursday, I took out my luggage and I was like, let’s get going (to Paris),” she said. 

Her appeal to SAQ was turned down, the 31-year-old confirmed with CNA on Monday.

As a team, Quah, with sister Jing Wen and national teammates Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim, met the Olympic qualifying criteria for the 4x100m medley relay at the world championships in February.

Of the four swimmers, Letitia was the only one who met the "A" cut, in the 100m breaststroke. Unlike the individual events, there are no Olympic “A” cut times for relay qualification.

As such, global governing body World Aquatics granted Singapore an exemption to allow three relay-only swimmers to compete instead of the maximum of two.

However, World Aquatics later offered Gan an invitation to participate in the women’s 1,500m event based on her Olympic Consideration Time – or Olympic “B” cut – of 16:10.61 clocked earlier this month.

Swimmers automatically qualify for the Games if they meet the Olympic qualifying time, or “A” cut, and may be invited to compete if they meet the “B” cut.

World Aquatics then offered Singapore the choice of sending Gan or three relay-only swimmers.

SAQ chose Gan, according to its selection criteria. The decision led to Quah's appeal. 

Quah noted that it was ironic that she had helped Singapore qualify for the relay but will not be taking part, as it stands. 

“I was the one of the four to get Singapore’s first relay team to the Olympics, but the same team will likely not be competing at Paris,” she said. 

SAQ president Chay said: "I would like to put on record SAQ’s appreciation to Ting Wen for her dedication and commitment she has shown in this Olympic campaign.

"It unfortunate that while the team met the qualifying position, it was one individual OQT shy of earning direct entry into the Olympics. We understand her disappointment and empathise with her. We look forward to Ting Wen being an important part of our 2025 plans when we host the World Aquatics Championships and compete in the SEA Games.”

NOT THE FIRST TIME 

Quah said that the current selection controversy had happened before, back in 2021 when she was also vying for selection with Gan for the Tokyo Olympics that year. 

Back then, there was again a dispute over whether to send Quah or Gan. A Singapore Swimming Association (as SAQ was then known) committee initially picked Gan, but it was Quah who went to Japan instead after an appeal. 

Quah told CNA her gripe was not over who participates in the Olympics, but rather over how she had received confirmation of her spot only to have it taken away. 

“It is how this is not the first time this is happening that is the most frustrating part,” she said. 

Notwithstanding the manner in which the world governing body allows Olympic spots, she said, SAQ could have been clearer and more definitive about who it would be sending to the Games. 

“I will say the same thing that I said three years ago: I do not want this to ever have to affect anyone again,” she said.