Friday, August 15, 2008
posted on: 11:44 PM
We are so proud of you!
Singapore Team!
Singapore's 48 years long wait for an Olympic medal it's over !!
BEIJING, Aug 15 - Singapore were guaranteed their first Olympic medal since 1960 -- and only their second of all time -- by beating South Korea 3-2 on Friday to advance to the women's team championship final in table tennis.
Singapore will face China, who coasted into the final 3-0 without dropping a game to Hong Kong.
Somewhat dulling the achievement for the country of 4.6 million, the players and coach that carried Singapore to victory were all imports from table tennis powerhouse China.
"I feel very honoured. I've been in Singapore for just over two years and can help it get an Olympic medal, at least a silver, for the first time in 48 years," coach Liu Guodong said.
Fired up by a vocal pro-Singapore crowd, world number nine Feng Tianwei was the key player, launching the contest with a rapid-fire win in the first match and closing it with a classy and controlled victory in the tense final match.
Singapore beat the previously undefeated South Korea three matches to two in the best-of-five contest.
Fans were treated to perhaps the finest table tennis of the Olympics yet in a match between Beijing-born Li Jia Wei, Singapore's top player at world number six, and Kim Kyung-ah, South Korea's best at 11th.
CONTRASTING STYLES
The contrasting styles of Li's aggressive topspin and Kim's defensive chops proved the perfect blend for rallies that regularly topped 20 hits.
Li, who has been frazzled by nerves on big occasions before, showed impatience toward the end, rushing her forehand. Kim fell to her knees after sealing the win, 5-11 11-8 9-11 11-6 and 11-9.
Despite the acrobatics of Korea's Park Mi-young in the fifth and deciding match, the unflappable Feng prevailed 11-7 12-10 3-11 and 11-9, winning when the Korean committed a rare error, faulting on her serve.
"In a battle like that, everyone is nervous. So if you can just keep it cool, you've got an advantage," Feng said.
China's dismantling of Hong Kong in their semi-final prompted the venue managers to bring out a panda mascot for an unprecedented dance interlude, just to slow things down.
Hong Kong's Tie Yana, world number 10, was hard pressed to find a flaw in the Chinese women.
"Weaknesses? It's tough to say," she laughed, saying no more.
By By Simon Rabinovitch.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080815/tap-olympics-tabletennis-singapore-c3bb44c.html
Singapore's Feng Tianwei reacts during a match against South Korea's Park Mi-young during the table tennis women's team semifinals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008. Singapore beat South Korea to advance to the finals.
Feng Tianwei (L) of Singapore hugs her compatriot Li Jiawei after winning their women's team semifinal table tennis match against South Korea at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008
Feng Tianwei (R) of Singapore celebrates her victory in the women's team semifinal table tennis match against Park Mi Young of South Korea at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008
L-R: Singapore's table tennis team Wang Yue Gu, Feng Tianwei, head coach Liu Guodong and Li Jia Wei celebrate after defeating South Korea's team during the women's team table tennis semi-finals round of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Peking University gymnasium in Beijing
Singapore women's team players Li Jia Wei, right, and Wang Yue Gu, left, play against South Korea women's team members Kim Kyung-ah and Park Mi-young, during table tennis team competition semifinals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 15, 2008
But seriously i'm thinking when is it gonna be possible for Singapore to win an Olympic medal by a "total 100% Singaporean?" Those they are now citizens of Singapore, but they still here from other countries. But nevertheless it's still a good start for us! Keep it up manz! (: *cheers*
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