China beat Singapore 3-0 in gold medal match – live play-by-play commentary

By REDinterns Koh Yizhe and Wong Hong Yong

Some members of the Red Sports crew came together to watch the table tennis final at Red Sports HQ. We provided a play-by-play commentary of the game (see below) and here are some post-game comments of the game.

Koh Yizhe – I think it’s clear that the Singapore players were a lot more relaxed than in the previous semi-final match against South Korea. Li Jia Wei and co. seemed relaxed even as they lost points. Well, a silver is good enough. Of course, we tell ourselves this to comfort ourselves after letting the gold medal slip away.

Wong Hong Yong – I felt it’s not about the performance. Because of the pressure, it was like an oven that was overheated, waiting to blow. The Singapore team just did not have enough in them to actually handle it because it was the first time that they were fighting for a gold medal and it was China’s …… ( I just lost count ) nth time and surely they must have been trained to cope with such pressure. I think if we were in the final the next time, our chance of tasting gold would be much higher, don’t you agree? Oh, one more thing. I think if I had sported Zhang Yining’s “killer ping pong face” I would have died of face cramp.

Vanessa Lim – I think that they have done well to achieve a silver medal, but could have done better by minimizing the mistakes that contributed points to the opposing team.

Uncle Les – Zhang Yining of China looks like she eats ping pongs for breakfast. So fierce!

Uncle Bob Lancione (Our American webmaster) – Aren’t they all related?

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Below is a live play-by-play by Wong Hong Yong (HY) and Koh Yizhe (YZ).

Hey, we got silver. Our first after gaining independence, hurray! Maybe better luck next time!

6-11 HY – this is all over and China win the first ever team event for table tennis at an Olympics.
6-10 HY – time out is called and this is ending very soon. With 4 game points to spare, how can they not win this!!!
6-8 HY – aggressive playing by China and they are now on the verge of gold.
6-6 HY – there seems to be mandarin commentator talking too. Strange.
5-6 HY – I think China could win another gold medal if shouting was a sport. Always shouting after every point, whether it is theirs or ours.
4-4 HY – ohhh Guo Yue shows us how to do a matrix NG and gifts Singapore another point.
3-4 HY – mistake by China and we get another point
2-4 YZ – Another wide shot…………….
2-1 YZ – a KILLER shot by Guo Yue, impossible to save by Singapore.
Third Set

5-11 YZ – Ok, its over! The second game goes to China. Now, they only need 1 more game to win the gold medal.
5-9 YZ – ok, I take that back! Some really beautiful quick shots by Jia Wei.
3-9 YZ – Honestly, I am losing hope!
3-8 YZ – This time, it hits the net and bounce, but not over.
2-7 YZ – HA! Hit the net and bounced over!
1-6 YZ – Wide again by “WG”
0-4 YZ – China, with their killer smashes, race to a large lead.
Second set

8-11 HY – China just won this…. super smash.
8-9 HY – OHH just spins out of Jiawei’s reach.
8-8 HY – maybe we will win the next 3 games if china wins the first??
8-6 YZ – U. Les gets to keep his hair!!
U. Les – IF SINGAPORE WINS THE NEXT 3 POINTS, I WILL SHAVE MY HEAD BALD!!
5-4 YZ – Singapore’s players are really shooting birds. Maybe they should join the shooting team.
4-1 YZ – Ouch! Zhang’s game face is STILL on as she blast a shot against Singapore’s paddlers
2-0 YZ – Singapore wins the first points. The supporters are pumped up!
Li Jia Wei/Wang Yue Gu vs. Yue Guo/Zhang Yining

Look at that panda mascot dancing. I believe it’s a strategy . Make the Singapore players look at it, laugh, and lose the team game due to excessive laughter. Cunning and no one is going to suspect a thing, CLEVER.

Now it looks like it’s all in China’s grasp now and if they lose it, it’s not going to be my fault. Guess what?? Jia Wei did a “Feng Tian Wei”, winning the first set but losing the match. Why?! Oh, Why?! If only Jia Wei played against Wang Nan, she might have a chance. Zhang Yining was JUST TOO powerful!

7-11 HY – Argh , we just lost it. SAD but lets move on. OH! my favourite 24/7 convenience store.
7-10 HY – Ok I should not have given that face.
7-9 HY – SEE , I told you so. ( gives a hao lian face)
6-9 HY – timeout, we are coming . Slow and steady but surely we are catching up!!!
4-9 HY – we still got to catch up and hopefully the kiasu attitude of Singaporeans comes into play here. WE WANT TO BE FIRST!!!!
4-7 HY – ok now i’m feeling like its going to be over real soon.
4-6 YZ – Zhang, with her game face, returns everything to Jia Wei… with interest.
4-4 YZ – WOW! We DO have hope!
3-3 YZ – As expected, the lead didn’t last long.
3-1 YZ – Li is stepping up her game. The crowd responds with cheers!
Fourth

4-11 HY – Sudden shot by ‘Ping pong crusher look’ zhang and she wins the game.
4-10 HY- game point for china , 6 in fact. Can we win this!!
3-9 HY – Not another one….
3-7 YZ – Yet another wide shot by Li.
3-6 YZ – I think Jia Wei is scared of Zhang!
3-3 YZ – HA!! The lead didn’t last long!
2-3 YZ – Zhang really have her game face on!
Third

U. Les – Zhang can crush ping pong balls with her look!!
HY – I was wondering are there any birds in the stadium??IF NOT, Why do the players keep hitting up??
3-11 HY – game point China , she finishes Jiawei with a hard forehand smash. It’s the change that put Jiawei off.
3-8 HY – How can you stop someone who throws everything you had , back at you???
2-7 HY – OHHH! Jiawei’s lob went too high.
1-5 YZ – The drives and smashes are just too powerful. Agony can be seen on Li Jia Wei’s face.
1-3 YZ – China race to a lead. The match is just too fast.
Second: Lets just hope Jia Wei doesn’t do a “Feng Tian Wei” and lose the match after winning the first game.

11-9 HY – HOOO , too much power in the service of Zhang and Jiawei wins this.
10-9 HY – WHATTTT! Rescue 4 points. This is tense.
10-8 HY – TIMEOUT, Singapore.
10-8 YZ – Then 3
10-7 YZ – Then 2
10-5 YZ – 5 game points!! China saves one.
9-5 YZ – Finally, Jia Wei is getting her form back!!
5-3 YZ – China are getting back into the game! DONT LET HER, JIA WEI!
3-1 YZ – Li Jia Wei wouldn’t let Zhang get a chance to control the game.
2-0 YZ – Singapore wins the first 2 points, setting the tempo for the whole game.
First
Li Jia Wei vs. Zhang Yining : The darling of Singapore vs. World No. 1

Summary:
The experience of world number 2 Wang was just too much for Feng, the world number 7 who just could not keep her form. The game slipped away from her after the first game. WHAT WAS FENG DOING?

6-11 HY – game lost … but we still got other games to go before the gold medal is decided.
6-10 HY – OR is it!!
5-10 HY – 5 match points for China, coming back from 5 down is just too difficult.
5-8 HY – Once again Singapore just will not let China win easily.
4-8 HY – It’s too powerful , the smashes by wang for feng to control the return.
4-6 YZ – Opps. Spoke too early.
3-6 YZ – The game is slipping away from Feng
3-5 YZ – Wang’s shots are just too strong! Feng isn’t able to control it!
3-4 YZ – Super smash by China gives them the lead.
3-3 YZ – Singapore lead doesn’t last long.
3-2 YZ – Singapore takes the LEAD, with a backhand by china going into the net.
2-2 YZ – Not for long though. Once again, we DO have hope.
1-2 YZ – China takes the lead.
1-1 YZ – I just don’t want them to whitewash us!!
1-0 YZ – First point by singapore!! hope it is sign for things to come.
Fourth

8-11 YZ – NOOOOO!! China win the 3rd game
7-10 YZ – 3 game points!! HA!! Save by singapore! 2 more to go!
7-9 YZ – We still have HOPE!! The fast paced game caused China to go wide!
8-6 HY – looks like Feng can nick this. Oh no. China got another point.
China coach- NOOOOOO , DON’T LET HIM.
Singapore coach – I’m going to win
8-5 HY – amazing rally , with Wang making the mistake and Feng capitalizing.
8-4 HY – good anticipation by Feng, good point
8-3 HY – the speed of play is just TOO fast!!
6-2 HY – another excellent smash by Wang Nan of china.
5-2 HY – backhand by Feng, JUST missed the table.
2-3 YZ – We still have hope!
1-3 YZ – Nice smash by China. Singapore just missed it!
1-1 YZ – With one game a piece, both start with a point each.
Third game

3-10 YZ – Game point China. She makes use of it as the game ends 3 -11 in a forgettable game for Singapore.
1-8 YZ – WHAT HAPPENED??? YET another point by China!
1-6 HY – OHHH , Feng of Singapore misses a free point
0-3 HY – China race to a 3-0 lead. Make it 4.
11-9 HY- Eh Teo Ser Luck spotted. Isn’t he suppose to be at the national day rally?
10-9 YZ – Second game point. SHE DID IT. First games goes to Singapore with the crowd going wild.
10-8 YZ – Game point for Singapore
9-8 Hong Yong (HY) – 9-8 with Singapore in the lead and time out called by China
Singapore 8 -5 – Yizhe (YZ) – Quick attacking play by both sides.
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7:05pm

Here is the start list as it stands now:

Match 1 – WANG Nan (China) v FENG Tianwei (Singapore)

Match 2 – ZHANG Yining (China) v LI Jia Wei (Singapore)

Match 3 – GUO Yue/? (China) v WANG Yue Gu/? (Singapore)

UMPIRES
BERGFELDT Rebecca (Sweden)
HUBERTY Sonja (Luxembourg)

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6:50pm

Hello sports fans,

Prime Minister just came on Channel 5 to talk about the ping-pong game. He said that when he was rehearsing at the University Cultural Centre on Friday night, he found out about the semi-final win over South Korea, which, “left me with a small problem. What to do with the rally?”

He decided, after discussing with his colleagues, to embargo his speech and have the English telecast delayed until Monday night. His speech will be covered only Tuesday in the papers. “So please don’t tell your family and friends my jokes,” he said to laughter from the audience.

He continued: “Somebody will update me from time to time on my screen. I will let you know if I hear anything. You don’t have to depend on sms.”

u. Les
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Tonight is the table tennis gold medal game between Singapore and China and we’ll provide you a play-by-play. After all, this is a historic event and who knows whether we’ll see another gold-medal game in our lifetime.

And for those of you stuck in some boring function that you can’t get out of, hey, you can log in and sneak a peek to get the score. LOL

u. Les

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