KUALA LUMPUR: The National Sports Council (NSI) have no intentions in renewing the contract of former national diving coach, Huang Qiang who has been freed by the Sessions Court of the rape charge yesterday (Monday).
"Huang’s contract has ended earlier this year and we have no intentions of renewing his contract,” said NSI director-general, Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail.
Huang’s case garnered attention after the coach from China was charged with raping a 20-year-old national diver at the diving gymnasium at the National Aquatics Centre, Bukit Jalil Sports Complex at 5.30pm on September 26 last year.
The chargers faced by Huang under Section 376 (1) provide for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and canning if found guilty of the offence.
However the Sessions Court yesterday found that the prosecutors had failed to prove a Prima Facie case at the end of the trial which began on January 19.
Huang, 36, was appointed as an assistant coach to former head coach, Yang Zhuliang back in 2007, and he won a medal in the men’s 3m individual springboard event at the 2012 Montreal Grand Prix, as well as a bronze medal at the 2012 London World Cup after obtaining citizenship that same year.
The charge Huang faced is said to be the reason why Zhuliang’s services as head coach was not extended nor renewed even though before this he was pivotal in bringing success to the national diving team.
