A gallant performance from Chan Tan-lui was not enough to see Hong Kong's women table tennis team into the final of the tournament as they made a last-four exit against against North Korea last night.
Chan, the sole veteran in Hong Kong's inexperienced side, won her first singles rubber and was pressed into duty in an attempt to save the match, eventually won 3-1 by the Koreans.
Defeat means Hong Kong will have to settle for bronze, but Chan was upbeat after the loss. 'This is a young team and I'm sure they will get better,' she said. 'Winning bronze here is a good achievement.' 'We played well as a team but just couldn't do it at the end. I was a bit tired in my second match and that affected me.' The Koreans got off to a flying start with Kim Hyon-hui sweeping aside Wong Ching imperiously, winning 21-9, 21-16.
Chan got Hong Kong back into the match in the next rubber against Tu Jong-sil but had to call on all her experience to overcome a dangerous opponent. She won the first game 21-15 but the tenacious Tu took the second 23-21.
In the decider, Chan raised her game and opened up a comfortable buffer zone early on to win 21-14.
The third rubber was to prove the turning point, with Song Ah-sim crumbling against Wi Pok-sun. After a slow start, Song looked to have found some rhythm and went into a 20-18 lead, only to see Wi fight back to win the game 22-20.
That win demoralised Song, and Wi capitalised in the next game, winning 21-13 to take the rubber. With Hong Kong needing to win the fourth rubber to stay in the match, coach Wong Man-wa threw Chan back into the fray to face Kim.