NO REPRIEVE FOR QUAH

Ting Wen out of Paris Olympics after failed appeals to aquatic bodies

- Deepanraj Ganesan

It has been an emotionally exhausting few days for Singapore swimmer Quah Ting Wen, but there was still no good news for her as it was confirmed on July 8 that she will not compete in the Paris Olympics.

Appeals to Singapore Aquatics (SAQ) and World Aquatics (Aqua) were rejected, with the national sports association announcing that the 31-year-old will be replaced by Gan Ching Hwee, 20, in the women's 4x100m medley relay team and will miss out on her fourth Games.

SAQ said in a press statement that Quah's appeal was heard by its appeals committee on July 7, but it was unsuccessful. A separate appeal by the Singapore body to Aqua to reinstate an extra relay-only slot - which would allow Quah and Gan to compete in Paris - was also rejected.

Singapore will now compete in seven swimming events in Paris the men's 50m and 100m freestyle (Jonathan Tan), women's 100m and 200m breaststroke (Letitia Sim), women's 800m and 1,500m freestyle (Gan), and women's 4x100m medley relay (Levenia Sim, Letitia, Quah Jing Wen and Gan).

SAQ president Mark Chay said: "It would have been ideal if we could have sent six athletes to the Games. But... we will have to respect the decision... we urge everyone to get behind our team of five who, I have no doubt, will do us proud."

Ting Wen told The Straits Times she was "disappointed and emotionally exhausted" by the events of the past few days.

She described the journey from February when Ting Wen, her sister Jing Wen and the Sim sisters had earned a historic Olympic berth after finishing ninth at the world championships in Qatar - to the latest news as an emotional roller coaster.