Marc Lim blogs live from the China-Singapore match. China 3, S'pore NIL.

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Peking University Gymnasium
In Beijing

Olympics Table Tennis Women's Team Finals
Final score: CHINA 3 - SINGAPORE NIL

7:25pm: I'M AT the Peking Uuniversity Gymnasium and it's packed to its maximum 5,000 capacity tonight. It's full of patriotic Chinese who are waving flags and supporting their players in the table tennis finals against Singapore - led by none other than Chinese President Hu Jintao. Representing Singapore are a pocketful of just about 50 fans.

7:28pm: China has made changes to their line-up.

Instead of world number one Zhang Yining starting the play, it will be world number five Wang Nan starting. Wang will take on Feng Tianwei in the first singles, followed by Zhang against Li Jiawei in the second singles.

7:36pm: Singapore race to a 7-4 lead in the first singles. Feng Tianwei is carrying on from where she's left off in the semi-finals.

Time-out is called by China.

7:38pm: 10-9, Wang Nan pulls one back. But it's Tianwei who gets the crucial point. 11-9 and takes the first game.

7:42pm: Second game starts and it's running away from Tianwei in a flash. 6-0.

Wang Nan was the 2000 Sydney Olympics singles champion so you know she is a quality player.

7-1, Tianwei gets on board. 8-2, Tianwei has a big mountain to climb. 8-3, Tianwei's after a great rally.

7:46pm: Wild shot by the Singaporean end her good run, 9-3 to China. 11-3, it's even. One game all, as we head into game three.

7:48pm: Start of game three and Tianwei sends a return long to give the Chinese the first point. Wang Nan returns the favour, it's 1-1.

There was much speculation that Tianwei would face world number one Zhang Yining in the first game, but with the Singaporean beating her a few months ago, maybe the Chinese would rather not risk their top player falling again.

The decision to play Wang Nan instead seems to be working out now as she leads 3-2.

7:50pm: Wang Nan, 30, is hugely experienced, with over 10 years in China's national team. She was the singles world champion in 1999. And she's now 6-2 up, to the cheers of a packed hall.

Tianwei pulls one back to bring it to 7-3.

7:52pm: Tianwei looks in disgust as a shot flies wide... 8-3 to Wang Nan.

But Tianwei replies, 8-4.

8-5, a Wang Nan return goes long and China calls for a time-out.

7:54pm: Players return after a pep talk from their coaches. They know this next few points will be crucial. 8-6, can Singapore claw their way back?

Tianwei sends a return wide, 9-6.

9-7, tense faces in the hall.

7:56pm: 10-7, can Wang Nan take the second game too?

Not without a fight, 10-8.

Tianwei goes for the towel and gets a breather. She knows she can't afford one mistake.

7:58pm: But it comes with her very next stroke, placing her shot wide again... to fall 8-11.

The score's now 11-9, 3-11, 8-11 in favour of the Chinese.

Singapore have never beaten the Chinese in team events before, losing 0-3 and 1-3 at the Asian and World Championships respectively.

Tianwei needs to win this game if Singapore are to hope for a bright start. Lose and the first game goes to China.

8:00pm: 2-2 in the fourth game.

3-2 to Singapore as Wang Nan returns into the net. Once more and it's 3-all.

8:03pm: But the Chinese races to a lead and it's now 6-4 to Wang Nan.

Another Tianwei return is too strong ... 7-4.

Zhang Yining and Li Jiawei are up next if Tianwei fails to win this game.

Zhang Yining has an 11-0 record against Jiawei in table tennis' Pro Tour and Asian and World Championship matches. Odds are not in Jiawei's favour, which adds to Tianwei's pressure to win now.

8:06pm: But it's 9-5. 10-5. Match point for China and this might soon be over, folks.

Great smash by Tianwei to pull a point back. 10-6. 11-6, Tianwei goes wide and misses the table.

So Singapore's down a match now in the gold medal playoff.

China 1, Singapore 0 - Wang Nan beating Feng Tianwei 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6.

8:10pm: There's a festive atmosphere in the hall. Everyone's expecting a China win - it's China's national sport, after all, and the country's No 1 man is here.

A fan just shouted: "Zhang Yining, the whole of China is behind you!"

8:12pm: Jiawei goes on to a 2-0 lead. But the world No 1 replies with a rapier-like smash.

3-1 to Singapore, Jiawei's shot is too hot for Zhang to handle. The pocket of Singapore fans making their voices heard by shouting Singapore Jia You and it seems to be working 5-1 to Jiawei.

5-2 as Jiawei smashes wide.

8:14pm: Jiawei's metal strength has often been called into question, with her critics saying she can't handle pressure. 6-3 in the lead, it is indeed her's to lose in the opener.

6-4, the world No 1 begins her comeback.

7-4, Jiawei forces Zhang into an error.

7-5, Jiawei smashes into the net.

Zhang does the same, 8-5.

8:16pm: 9-5, can Jiawei get two more and take the game?

She can! The world No 1 sending her shot high and wide. 10-5. Game point, Jiawei.

10-6, Jiawei's shot just failing to clear the net.

10-7.

Zhang shows no emotion as she plots a comeback. 10-8. Still no emotion on the face on the world's number one and a time-out is called.

8:18pm: Both Jiawei and Zhang were teammates at Beijing's Shichahai Sports School in the early 1990s. Jiawei was spotted by Singapore and brought over as a teenager, while Zhang stayed on to become the world number one.

10-9, Zhang sends a smash off the table and into Jiawei.

Reprieve for Jiawei as Zhang's serve goes long! The Singapore fans and bench heave a sigh of relief.

8:20pm: The MC just asked the Chinese crowd to cheer for their Singapore visitors. Ping pong diplomacy?

8:22pm: Start of the first game and Jiawei's drawn first blood.

But Zhang finds herself 3-1 up after a super rally that has the fans going wild.

4-1 to the world No 1 and defending Olympic champ.

5-1, still no emotion on Zhang's face. Is she human? Or just really focused?

5-2, Zhang returns wide.

Finally, a Zhang cheer, as pulls 6-2 ahead, now 7-2.

8:24pm: 8-3. Zhang looks odds on to take this game.

9-3. Just two points away. 

10-3. One more point to draw level in the duel between two former teammates.

8:26pm: 11-3 and it's 1-1.

8:27pm: Start of game three. And Zhang takes the first point.

Zhang goes 2-0 up, sending Jiawei scrambling from left to right to left again before sealing the point.

2-1, Jiawei gets on the board. 2-2, she pulls level.

8:29pm: 3-2. Zhang reponds to cries of China Jia You.

3-3... Jiawei again pulls level.

8:31pm: 5-3, Zhang races ahead, 6-3.

Could her critics be right? Is this the start of the great a downward spiral for Jiawei?

7-3, Jiawei puffs her cheeks, seemingly at a loss as to how to break the world number one.

8-3. 9-3, a super rally but again the point goes to Zhang.

8:33pm: Jiawei serves out, 10-3. Game point to Zhang.

10-4, too little too late for Jiawei.

11-4, a deadly smash by Zhang to which Jiawei has no answer.

Both Jiawei and Zhang are Beijing natives, but there is only one hometown favourite tonight. The crowd begins waving Chinese flags and dancing in their seats. But a few Singapore flags come out too.

8:35pm: Game four and Jiawei lets out a wry smile as Zhang draws first blood again.

1-1, then 2-1 to Jiawei.

8:37pm: As the case with Tianwei, Jiawei now finds herself in a posistion where she has to win the game to stay in the contest.

3-1, can she do it?

3-2.

3-all. Another Zhang comeback with a hattrick.

8:39pm: 3-4 now Jiawei trials... But she pulls one back, 4-4.

A smash down the side to which Jiawei has no answer to.

4-5 becomes 4-6, as Jiawei finds net. That's good in basketball, but not table tennis!

7-4, the beginning of the end, I fear.

8-4.

8:41pm: It's all running away quickly for Singapore, 9-4.

Unless there is a China meltdown, the golden dream looks like it is over.

9-5, 9-6, is there hope?

We'll have to wait and see as a time-out called by China.

8:42pm: Win or lose, the Singapore flag will still be raised today - the first time at an Olympics since 1960. But how Singapore would love a gold...

9-7! Jiawei's fighting back!

Jiawei had Zhang in trouble, but she fights her way out of it... But it's 10-7. Match point for China.

8:44pm: A deadly forehand and it's over. 11-7. Singapore is now down 0-2.

8:46pm: Queen's "We will rock you" fills the hall. The home fans go wild, clapping cheering and then shouting in unison: "Rock you!"

8:47pm: Maybe the final is going too fast, but either way, they've brought out the Fuwa dancers.

In case you don't know what they are, they're the cute little mascots of the Beijing Olympics - Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huan Huan, Ying Ying and Ni Ni. They're named after the phrase "Beijing Huan Ying Ni", which means "Beijing Welcomes You".

8:49pm: It's the doubles up next and it's world number one Zhang and world number two Guo Yue against Singapore'sLi Jiawei and Wang Yuegu.

Should they lose, it's game over and goodbye gold.

China has yet to drop a game at the Olympics, winning 3-0 in their group matches and then 3-0 in their semi-final against Hong Kong.

8:53pm: Singapore draws first blood!

They make it 2-0.

Jiawei and Wang storm to a 3-0 lead. Now, 4-0!

It's all too familiar, Singapore racing into the lead in the first game... Only to lose the next three. But China's not about to let this game run away... 4-3.

8:55pm: Yuegu smashes to lead 5-3.

5-4, China's world No 1-2 duo punch a reply.

6-4, the two point cushion is restored.

Not for long though, 6-5 to Singapore.

8:57pm: 6-6: China levels.

Guo Yue returns long, it's 8-6 Singapore.

8-7, it's gonna be close.

8-8. A tie.

Guo Yue's smash is too much for Jiawei, 8-9 Singapore trial.

10-8, China game point.

8:59pm: 11-8, the bright start comes to nothing. China take a 1-0 lead in the third match.

9:00pm: Perhaps scant consolation, but Singapore have already accomplished what no team has done at this Olympics - take China past the one-hour mark in a match.

3-0, China takes command early. 4-0.

9:02pm: Timeout is called by Singapore.

Singapore 1-4, but China responds 1-5.

1-6, a five-point lead is built. 1-7, four points away from a 2-0 lead.

9:04pm: But Singapore bounce back with two quick points. 7-3.

Just as quickly, that becomes 9-3.

9-4, a Guo Yue error keeping Singapore in the game.

9:06pm: 9-5, back-to-back points for the Republic.

10-5. Game point China.

And it's there, 11-5. China looks unstoppable.

9:07pm: They lead 2-0 overall, and 2-0 now in the third match.

Another 11 points and it will be an early night for everyone here at the Peking University Gymnasium.

9:09pm: Singapore get the first points of the game, but China soon draw level 2-2. An amazing winner by Guo Yue.

Almost falling, she sends a crossing shot which catches Jiawei unawares.

3-2, now 4-2 as China build on that brillant piece of play.

9:11pm: But Singapore come back 4-4.

Only for China to take command again, 5-4.

6-4, China's halfway there in the game.. And the gold.

9:12pm: 6-5, Singapore are not giving up without a fight. 6-6!

9:13pm: Yuegu returns into the net, 7-6 to China. Some fans probably want the evening to last longer.. they're cheering for Singapore.

But their wishes are unlikely to come true. 9-6, it'll be over soon.

10-6... Gold medal point. The crowd goes wild!

9:14pm: Timeout by Singapore - unlikely to prevent the inevitable.

One more point and the first table tennis gold goes to China.

9:15pm: GAME OVER! 11-6 and China gets the gold.

9:18pm: The atmosphere is electric at the Peking University Gymnasium as the MCs call for the crowd to congratulate the new Olympic gold-medal table tennis women's team. The Singapore team and fans don't seem too downcast as they prepare for the victory ceremony.

I'm Marc Lim. Well done Singapore!

Tags: olympics2008, table tennis, team singapore