THE Singapore Amateur Athletic Association (SAAA) have dropped two China-born throwers – Mr Luan Wei and Ms E Xiaoxu – from the Foreign Talent Scheme (FTS) for failing to meet their targets.

In doing so, the association's message to the other foreign-born athletes in its stable is crystal-clear: Shape up or be shipped out.

Following the sacking, Mr Luan and Ms E, both Singapore permanent residents, will no longer receive financial aid, averaging $2000 a month each, from the SAAA.

According to the SAAA, the decision to remain in Singapore or return to China is entirely up to them.

If they choose to return to China, their permanent residency status will almost certainly be revoked.

Shot putter Luan's fate was sealed at the 66th Singapore Open two weeks ago when he threw 16.31m, well short of the 17.50m target the SAAA set for him in February.

The 22-year-old's personal best is 17.17m.

Hammer specialist E, 20, failed to go beyond her target of 52m at the 81st Malaysian Open last weekend.

Ms E, who has a personal best of 48.64m set in July, could only manage 43.94m in the Kuala Lumpur meet.

Said Mr Chan Chee Wei, SAAA's vice-president for training and selection: "There's no excuse for their poor performance because they have been here for more than four years.

"If they had shown some form of progress, it would have been easier for us to retain them. But their progress has stagnated."

Mr Chan, 41, said that the SAAA will not leave the two throwers, who became PRs in February last year, in the lurch.

He said: "We will try to help them as much as we can, depending on what they want to do. But we will no longer support them financially."

He hopes that the axing will serve as a wake-up call to the other athletes.

He said: "All our national athletes have to perform to justify the grants given to them. Failing which, they risk being sacked."

Mr Luan and Ms E, who could not be contacted yesterday, were among six throwers brought in from China by the SAAA under the Foreign Talent Scheme four years ago.

Three of them – Mr Dong Enxin, Ms Zhang Guirong and Ms Du Xianhui – have gone on to become Singapore citizens.

Another thrower, Ms Wang Dan, returned to China two years ago due to homesickness. She was not offered permanent residency.

To be sure, the SAAA is not the first National Sports Association to drop underperforming, foreign-born sportsmen and women.

Earlier this year, the Singapore Badminton Association booted out Indonesian shuttlers Hendri Kurniawan Supatra, Hendra Wijaya, Robert Sugarra and Rocky for being unfit.

All have since gone back to Indonesia.

The Singapore Hockey Federation also has not had much success with the six players it imported from Inner Mongolia in 1998, as they struggled to juggle work with sports.

Four of them – Ms Zhang Jun, Ms Qi Hui, Ms Li Ying, and Ms Chen Huiling – are still training with the national team, while Ms Niu Lei is back in China. Ms Ma Xiaomeng has been sidelined with an injury.

Asked if the SAAA plans to replace Mr Luan and Ms E with new foreigners, Mr Chan said: "No. We plan to develop some of our local athletes."

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