BEIJING: After 11 days of waiting, after hours knocking countless ping-pong balls back and forth in training, Singapore's best hopes for an Olympic medal begin their quest today.

The focus on the women's table tennis team may have waned over the last few days, given the exploits of swimmer Tao Li.

'We're proud of Tao Li's achievements... The spirit in the Singapore camp has been good.' ANTONY LEE, Singapore table tennis team manager

But all the attention will shift back to Li Jiawei and Co, who open their campaign at the Peking University Gymnasium this morning.

Ranked second in the world, Li, Wang Yuegu and Feng Tianwei will take on the seventh-ranked United States at 10am. They then face world No37 Nigeria at 7.30pm.

The men's team, comprising Gao Ning, Yang Zi and Cai Xiaoli, will open their campaign against minnows Canada at 2.30pm.

The Singapore table tennis squad have had time to get used to the conditions in Beijing since they arrived here on Aug 2.

Women's captain Li said the team's preparations have been close to perfect.

She said: 'Having done most of our training before arriving, we just wanted to make sure we got used to life in the Athletes' Village.

'I must say that everything is very well-organised, life at the Village is good. The amenities are good, and we are quite comfortable.

'That has allowed us to approach the competition without any worries.'

Tao Li's exploits have been an inspiration to the rest of the Singapore team, including the paddlers.

Said team manager Antony Lee: 'We're proud of Tao Li's achievements. She has done well.

'The players have congratulated her.

'The spirit in the Singapore camp has been good.'

Now it is the turn of the table tennis players to keep Singapore's flag flying high in Beijing.

The men's and women's teams will be relying on an extensive video library, which has been compiled from Pro Tour events over the last year, to get the better of their opponents.

Said Lee: 'We have spent several evenings analysing the players we will face, observing their playing style, strengths and weaknesses.

'We want the players to be as familiar as possible with their opponents.'

Potential stumbling blocks will be Americans Gao Jun and Wang Chen.

Gao, 39, was a member of China's World Championship-winning team in 1993. She also clinched the doubles title at the 1991 World Championships.

She retired in 1993, but was coaxed to represent the Stars and Stripes in 1997.

Wang won the world title with China in 1997, before moving to the US two years later.

Singapore's chef de mission Tan Eng Liang is confident the women's team will get off to a good start.

He said: 'They're in high spirits and that's important going into a competition. They have proved consistently that they are among the world's best and I am confident they will show that in Beijing.'

marclim@sph.com.sg

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