So it is down to the rubber -- the final match between Singapore's Feng Tianwei and South Korea's Park Mi Young -- to see if they can seal the Republic's historic first Olympic medal in 48 years.

World No 9 Feng will be looking to finish off as she started, when she gave Singapore a dream start by crushing Dang 11-5, 11-5, 11-2.

The tie was levelled 1-1 when the Republic's world No 6 Li Jiawei lost 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11 to world No 11 Kim Kyung Ah in a thrilling 56 min-long second singles rubber.

It was the same player the Singaporean had lost the singles bronze medal to at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But Li bounced back from that defeat and partnered Wang to victory over Park and Kim in the doubles rubber, powering to a 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 win in just 28 mins to put the Republic 2-1 up in the best-of-five match team event.

If Feng wins, Singapore will be guaranteed at least a silver medal.