CHINA won the gold medal in the women's team table tennis final, after fighting off a strong challenge from Singapore to win the final 3-0 on Sunday evening.

The top-seeded hosts were led by Zhang Yining, the No. 1 player in the world. They picked apart second-seeded Singapore with near-flawless execution, dishing out shots to the edges and corners of the table.

It was China's 17th gold medal at the Olympic table tennis competition since its national sport was introduced at the 1988 Seoul Games, Xinhua new agency reported.

The star-studded Chinese women pushed, chopped and smashed, proving too powerful for Singapore before an enthusiastic crowd of more than 4,000, though Zhang and veteran Wang Nan dropped a game.

Finishing second, Singapore won its first Olympic medal in 48 years since a silver by weightlifter Tan Howe Liang in 1960.

Wang, who is often slow in finding her rhythm, failed to take a lead but brushed aside Feng Tianwei 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6. The team title was the fourth Olympic gold for Wang, the most decorated players in table tennis.

The battle between Zhang and Beijing-born Li Jia Wei of Singapore was full of long rallies across the table, with Zhang winning 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7.

The singles and doubles gold medalist in Athens then paired with world champion Guo Yue, quickly finishing off Li and Wang Yue Gu 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

Both China and Singapore had steamrolled over all before them with stunning victories since the start of the Olympic team table tennis tournament, which take the place of the doubles. They did not meet each other until the final.

A near-capacity crowd at Peking University Gymnasium chanted 'Go China' throughout the evening. Chinese President Hu Jintao and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge watched from a VIP section.