National sailors (from left) Xu, Chung, Terence Koh, Toh Liying and Teo Wee Chin give Laser coach Brett Beyer a pickmeup.

JUST over a month ago, national men’s 470 sailors Roy Tay and Chung Pei Ming were told they had missed out on selection for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The experienced pair, who played a big part in helping to secure Singapore’s spot in the Olympic event, were pipped in the selection trials by Xu Yuanzhen and Terence Koh, who finished just two points ahead.

SingaporeSailing decided to go with Xu and Koh, and their nomination was approved by the Singapore National Olympic Council in late June. It was heartbreak for Tay and Chung.

But at yesterday’s flag presentation ceremony for Singapore’s six Olympic sailors, Chung insisted there were no hard feelings. He did say, though, that they had extracted a promise from Xu and Koh.

Recounting the tale, Chung said the promise came in late June, when all four men were in Germany for the Kiel Regatta.

SingaporeSailing had just made their decision on who would sail at the Olympics.

“We’d all gathered in (national high performance head) Mark Robinson’s hotel room to be told who was selected,” recalled Chung, 25.

"When Roy and I were told we weren’t going to the Olympics, we were very disappointed, of course.

“We were all sitting on Mark’s bed and Roy and I turned to Yuanzhen and Terence and asked them, ‘Do you really want to go to the Olympics? Do you believe you can win?’ That is what we wanted ourselves, and we just wanted to know that they were on the same page.

“When they said yes, we wished them all the best and told them to enjoy themselves and do us proud.”

Together with the rest of the national squad, Chung put together a five-minute video clip which was played at yesterday’s send-off ceremony for Xu and Koh, Toh Liying and Deborah Ong (women’s 470), Lo Man Yi (women’s Laser Radial) and team captain Koh Seng Leong (Laser Standard).

Among those watching the clip yesterday were International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board member Ng Ser Miang and around 50 sailors, officials and coaches, who were present at the send-off.

The six sailors will leave for Qingdao today. The coastal city will host the Olympic sailing competition from Aug 9 to 21.

National Olympic head coach Craig Ferris, Laser coach Brett Beyer and team manager Peter Logan will be in Qingdao with the sailors.

SingaporeSailing president Low Teo Ping also took the opportunity yesterday to address those who weren’t selected. He said: “For those who didn’t make it to the Olympics, don’t lose heart.

“A part of this success is also due to you guys, because without you, those who are going wouldn’t have got to where they are today.”

Ng, who is the patron of SingaporeSailing, said he is scheduled to present the medals at one of the events in Qingdao, and hopes he will be able to put a medal around the neck of a Singaporean sailor.

“Even if it isn’t the event I’m scheduled for, I will swap to make sure I’ll be the one giving out the medals,” he said.

Ng said confidence is high within the Team Singapore delegation, with 25 athletes competing in six sports — athletics, badminton, sailing, shooting, swimming and table tennis at the 2008 Games.

“They’ve all done their physical preparation, and now they’re taking a break. They are just staying focused on the task at hand. The confidence is there that they will do well,” he said.