August 18, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 15, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 17: China stormed past Singapore to win the women’s team table tennis gold medal on Sunday, but there was consolation for the runners-up in taking the city-state’s first Olympic medal in 48 years.

In front of President Hu Jintao, the Chinese won 3-0 for the country’s 17th table tennis gold since its national sport was introduced at the 1988 Olympics.

The team also had the distinction of earning the host nation its 33rd gold of the Beijing Games, surpassing China’s previous best tally for a single Games set in Athens in 2004.

With a lively crowd chanting ‘Go China Go’, veteran Wang Nan, who won her fourth Olympic gold to become the most decorated table tennis player there is, brushed aside Feng Tianwei 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6.

World No 1 and Athens singles gold medallist Zhang Yining then stepped up to battle past Singapore’s Beijing-born Li Jia Wei 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7 in a match peppered by long rallies.

Zhang and world champion Guo Yue then paired to steamroller Li and Wang Yue Gu 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 to win the title.

“This has amazing significance for us. China has won gold in other table tennis events, I feel fortunate to have witnessed this moment,” said China coach Shi Zhihao.

“I want to thanks the athletes for their hard work in the last four years.”

Despite the landmark gold for China, tiny Singapore also celebrated a rare medal.

The last time anyone from Singapore stood on an Olympic podium was at the 1960 Rome Olympics when weightlifter Tan Howe Liang won silver — their only previous medal.

“Both China and Singapore are winners,” said Singaporean coach Liu Guodong.

“For us to win silver is as difficult as it is for China to win gold.”

Li Jia Wei added: “I’m really happy and feel like crying, but I just could not get any tears to roll.

“We know the Chinese team are the best in the world and it was an honour to play against them in the final.”

South Korea took bronze, easing past Japan 3-0 in the play-off match, ending any hope the Japanese had of snapping a 20-year medal drought in the sport.

Kim Kyung-Ah, who won a singles bronze medal at the Athens Olympics, got the ball rolling for the Koreans by overcoming Sayaka Hirano 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10.

The popular Ai Fukuhara, ranked 12 in the world, then lost to Chinese-born Dang Ye-Seo 11-4, 13-12, 7-11, 11-3 before Kim paired with Park Mi-Young in the doubles to beat Hirano and Haruna Fukuoka 11-6, 11-8, 13-11.

In the men’s team tournament, South Korea steamed past Hong Kong to book their place in the bronze medal play-off where they will meet Austria.

The final on Monday sees favourites China take on Germany.—AFP