SINGAPORE - The national women's table tennis team will have to play for seventh place at the Asian Championships, after losing 1-3 to North Korea in the play-off for fifth to eighth positions on Monday.

Singapore's top paddler Feng Tianwei did not play in the tie. The world No. 7 was rested after a slight pull to her back in the tie against South Korea on Saturday. She is expected to be fit to compete in the singles and doubles competition of the biennial tournament.

Yu Mengyu, the Republic's next highest-ranked paddler at No. 29, beat Ri Mi Gyong 11-9, 11-7, 11-9.

However Eunice Lim, the world No. 652, was unable to get the better of her No. 33 opponent Ri Myong Sun, losing 4-11, 3-11, 7-11. Singapore's third singles player Yee Herng Hwee was also beaten 2-11, 3-11, 3-11 by Kim Song I.

Yu then lost to Ri Myong Sun 7-11, 3-11, 11-3, 9-11.

Singapore will play either Thailand or Chinese Taipei next for seventh place.

In the men's team event, Singapore beat India 3-1.

Yang Zi beat Harmeet Desai 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 before Gao Ning posted a victory over Soumyajit Ghosh 13-11, 11-4, 11-3. Clarence Chew lost 11-5, 6-11, 6-11, 8-11 to Sanil Shetty, but Gao posted the winning point for the team in his 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6 victory over Desai.

The team will play Hong Kong next for fifth.