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 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 No 9 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 No 6, and Kim Kyung-ah, South Korea’s best at 11th.

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, 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.

Hong Kong’s Tie Yana was hard pressed to find a flaw in the Chinese women. “Weaknesses? It’s tough to say,” she laughed, saying no more.—Reuters