An Olympic medal at last

It was almost half a century when Singapore last won a medal in the Olympics. Come sunday, if by the Lord's grace the women's table tennis team brings home the gold, that would certainly be the icing on the cake. Read on for the report on the asiaone website:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Singapore's women table-tennis team won 3-2 in their semi-final against a skilful and tenacious South Korean team.

They are now assured of a silver medal and will meet the victor of the other semi-final, China or Hong Kong, in the final of the team event.

The match was played at the Peking University Gymnasium in Beijing.

Feng Tianwei was the first up for Singapore and she won her match against Dang Ye Seo, 11-5, 11-5, 11-2, giving Singapore the lead.

The second match between Singapore's Li Jiawei and S Korea's Kim Kyung Ah was a tensely-fought match, characterised by several brilliant rallies as neither party was willing to concede the point without a fight.

In the end, Kim Kyung Ah beat Li Jiawei 3-2 in a five-set thriller, 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8.
For the record, Kim also beat Li during the Athens 2004 women's singles bronze play-off.

In the next match, Singapore's Li Jiawei and Wang Yuegu paired up against South Korea's Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young.

The Singapore pair wrapped up this match efficiently with a 3-0 win over the S Korean pair, taking the match 11-7, 11-6, 11-9.

In the fourth match, Singapore's Wang Yuegu lost 0-3 to S Korea's Dang Ye Seo. She went down 11-8, 14-12, 11-9.

In the rubber, Singapore's Feng Tianwei beat S Korea's Park Mi Young 3-1, taking the match 11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 11-9.

With their triumph over the South Koreans, the Singapore team is now guaranteed the silver medal. They will now meet the victor of the other semi-final, China or Hong Kong, in the final for a shot at bagging the first Olympic gold for Singapore.

On their way to the final, Singapore's women table tennis team had to beat the United States, Nigeria and the Netherlands.