Sport - Olympic Games

Singapore’s long drought ends

BEIJING: Singapore was assured of its first Olympic medal in 48 years when the table tennis players made the final of the women’s team event beating South Korea. It has been a long wait for the city-state which last made the podium at the 1960 Rome Olympics when weightlifter Tan Howe Liang won the silver — its only previous medal.

“We will get a silver at least. I’m extremely satisfied and give my team full marks,” said Singapore coach Liu Guodong. “I feel that our mission has been accomplished because I treated today’s match as a final.

“Having worked as a coach in Singapore for two years, I’m very happy to have helped the country end its 48-year medal drought.”

Feng Tianwei was the heroine. She set the ball rolling with a 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 victory over Dang Ye-seo before World No. 6 Li Jiawei lost to Kim Kyung-ah 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9.

Li then paired with Wang Yue Gu, showing perfect teamwork to beat Kim and Park Mi-young 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 in the doubles.

But Dang bounced back to crush an exhausted Wang 11-8, 14-12, 11-9.

With the match tied at 2-2, Singapore’s fate hinged on Feng who displayed courage to beat a tenacious Park 11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 11-9.

“I had to be patient and wait for opportunities to attack,” said a relieved Feng. “When everyone was nervous at the last moment, staying calm was my advantage.”

South Korean coach Hyun Jung-Hwa paid tribute to Singapore and said his side would now target bronze in the play-off. “It’s a pity that we lost, but we will try to get a bronze,” she said.

Singapore will face China which coasted into the final 3-0 without dropping a game against Hong Kong.

Tie Yana, World No. 10, was hard-pressed to find a flaw in the Chinese women. — Agencies

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