Singapore ended its 48-year Olympic medal drought, after beating South Korea 3-2 in the semifinal of the Olympic women's team table tennis event on Friday.

The Southeast Asian city-state, with a population of 4.6 million, has never won a medal at the Games since a silver for men's weightlifting in 1960. Singapore is pinning the hopes on its women paddlers, led by Beijing-born Li Jia Wei.

In the final, Singapore will face either China or Hong Kong of China, who will take to the table later Friday for their semifinal showdown.

Feng Tianwei of Singapore easily finished off Dang Ye-seo 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 in the first set, before Kim Kyung-ah extended Li to five games, winning 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9.

Kim, a handshake chopper, foiled Li's forehand fast attacks. Excited about her victory, the South Korean knelt down, with her forehead touched to the ground.

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 crushed an exhausted Wang 11-8, 14-12, 11-9.

With the match tied at 2-2, Singapore's hopes fell on Feng, who displayed extraordinary sangfroid, beating a tenacious Park 11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 11-9.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)