SHE isn't a parent, but for two days, this freelance tutor faithfully trudged to the stadium to support her student, who was taking part in the high jump events.

The Bedok resident even stayed over at her friend's Choa Chu Kang home to make sure that she would not be late.

All her efforts however, went to waste: She was turned away both times.

Retired teacher Mary Goh, 68, was one of those turned away at the Choa Chu Kang stadium yesterday.

She said of the boy whom she has been tutoring for six years: 'He is an ultra-sensitive boy. He is not the kind who will express himself or talk much.

'But after so many years of tutoring him, I've become one of the few people he can be comfortable and spontaneous with.

'It took him very long to open up to me.'

Some time ago, the Primary 4 boy shyly told her of his competition and asked her if she would go and support him. As she had a soft spot for him, she replied: 'I will come.'

So on Thursday, she turned up, only to be told to leave because her name was not registered on the list of parents eligible to enter the stadium. Her student got through the semi-finals that day, so she thought she had another chance to watch him.

That evening, she got the boy's mother to call his teacher. The teacher obliged and registered her for yesterday's finals.

Confident that she would get into the stadium this time, she stayed over at her friend's place in Choa Chu Kang on Thursday.

But when she turned up at around 2pm yesterday, she was again denied entry.

'I saw my name on the list, but someone had cancelled it. They won't let me in,' she told this reporter as she stood in the midday heat and wiped perspiration off her neck.

Madam Goh said she later found out from the boy's mother that the teacher who had put her name down was not around and another teacher who took over allegedly cancelled her name as he did not recognise it.

'I called the teacher but I suppose they're all busy now. Nobody's answering.'

Disappointed

Surely she is disappointed?

'Yes, but I think he (the boy) will be more disappointed. He will be looking out for me in the stands later. But his mother will explain the situation to him later tonight,' she said.

Madam Goh declined to reveal the identity of her student to avoid any possible embarrassment for him.

The New Paper later learnt that the organisers changed the regulation and allowed parents into the venue at around 4pm yesterday.

But for Madam Goh and her student, it was too late. She left the stadium at 2.30pm, the time his event was scheduled to take place. The New Paper was not able to confirm how the boy did at the event.

This article was first published in The New Paper