BEIJING, CHINA - A teary Gao Ning, Singapore's top male table-tennis player, crashed out of his first Olympics in just 24 minutes yesterday, losing 0-4 to unheralded Tan Ruiwu of Croatia.

What raised hushed whispers at the Peking University Gymnasium, however, was not the manner of his defeat, but the surprising absence of a coach on court-side to advise and cheer the Singapore paddler on.

While the presence of a coach is not mandated by the rule book, he or she can often play an instrumental role by recommending tactical changes or simply by encouraging the player.

For the full story, visit straitstimes.com