Let me say it again. Singapore is in an Olympics final! However, when I searched the news online, I saw this article on BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/table_tennis/7562910.stm
What's wrong with it? Well, nothing except for this line they just had to include. "Feng Tianwei, who, like the rest of the Singapore team, is an import from China..."
Okay, so our whole team is imported from China. Like much of our food, electronics, pirated goods and Geylang chicken. But do they realise that is a moot point for table tennis? Which top team in table tennis doesn't have imports from China? I mean the Dominican Republic had two players called Qian Lian and Wu Xue, and the US had Wang Chen and Gao Jun. Tell me they are not from China. The names are a dead giveaway maybe?
It is an issue with some Singaporeans too, I've been hearing this a lot in the past few days. "The final is basically a Chinese team vs. another Chinese team, played in China. It's more like a domestic event."
However, I'm not going to let a little issue about country of birth affect the overwhelming patriotism that has been inculcated in me since I was a wee toddler. And certainly not for something this rare. This is the moment I was taught to sing the national anthem and wave a Singaporean flag vigorously for. I'm going to fish one from my NDP '08 goodie bag.
When the athletes are on the podium, the national flag is raised. If you're Singaporean, you'd better watch the victory ceremony. It's your only chance to watch the Singapore flag raised in an Olympics final. You can add the obligatory tears and rush of pride. GOOOO SINGAPORE!
I've even hung a Singaporean flag on the gate of my house to showcase my patriotic fervour. Although I still lose to the MP across the street who has it on a flagpole. Permanently.
However, I felt that the behaviour of Li Jiawei was disappointing. She actually conceded the final to China, saying that they played the semi final like a final, and hence they have nothing left to take the game to the Chinese. Maybe this is a psychological tactic, but knowing how she has a reputation for choking, I think she really feels the team won't win.
She didn't exactly have the most nerve wracking experience of the 3 players who played. That was Feng Tianwei, who had to play the opening match, AND the decider. If Feng isn't conceding, why is the team captain and flag bearer doing so? We may not have the top seeds, but finals are not always won by the top seeds. Even Zhang herself said they were taking nothing for granted because the skill levels were very close.
If you want to concede, don't play for Singapore. Here, we throw everything at the Chinese team till we can honestly say we lost to the better team. Nothing is over till the Merlion pukes and Li Jiawei chokes.