Beijing, Friday, August 22, 2008 – Li Jiawei lost 2-4 to Guo Yue of China in Beijing this evening. Jiawei, who also her bronze medal match in the 2004 Athens Olympics, showed there was fight in her yet when she clawed back from being 0-2 down to even the game up at 2-2. But Guo Yue was too agile on her feet and possessed a blistering smash to win crucial points again Jiawei.

With this win, Guo Yue ensured that China wins all the three medals for table tennis.

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This is a live play-by-play commentary. Start from the bottom to see how the game went.

Jiawei loses 2-4. She loses her second bronze medal opportunity in a row.

It’s all over. Li Jiawei goes down to Guo Yue 4-11.
Jiawei can’t dig out a return. 4-10. Match point.
A Guo Yue smash into the body. Jiawei can’t cope. 4-9.
Jiawei holds her own in this rally to win a valuable point. 4-8.
Jiawei’s return is long. 3-8.
The appearance of the towel man again to mop up the Yangtze River created by Guo Yue.
Make that 4 more. A Jiawei return goes long. 3-7.
5 more point for Guo Yue to win bronze.
A fantastic rally won by Guo Yue. 3-6.
Guo Yue almost made a miraculous recovery but Jiawei gets the point. 3-5.
A mistake by Jiawei. A backhand flick goes long. 2-5.
Guo Yue is just too quick for Jiawei! Jiawei trails 2-4.
Guo Yue still producing copious amount of sweat like a newater plant.
Jiawei makes a mistake after setting herself up with a great approach. 2-2.
A forehand drive by Jiawei is too good for Guo Yue. 2-1.
A Jiawei smash heads towards the arena lights. 1-1.
Jiawei leads 1-0.
6th game begins.

Jiawei trails 2-3 in the match.

A smash by Guo Yue catches the edge of the table. Jiawei loses 3-11.
Another body smash by Guo Yue. 3-10.
Jiawei gets a point. 3-9.
Guo Yue’s smash again into the body of Jiawei elicits a mistake from the latter. 2-9.
Finally, a mistake by Guo Yue. 2-8.
A Jiawei return goes long. 1-8. Bronze medal slipping away again.
Spellbinding exchange with Guo Yue coming out tops again. 1-7.
Same situation as the previous set.
Guo Yue’s return too fast for Jiawei. 1-6.
What a rally! It finished with Guo Yue on top. 1-4.
A backhand by Jiawei forces an error from Guo Yue. 1-3.
Then another with a return into the net. 0-3.
Jiawei loses another point. 0-2.
Woah! A Guo Wei smash into the body of Jiawei. Jiawei trails 0-1.

Start of the 5th game.

Jiawei evens up the match 2-2.

A Guo Wei smash goes long! Jiawei wins the game 11-7.
A Jiawei return hits the net. 10-7.
A Jiawei return hits the net and goes out. 10-6.
Jiawei smashes the ball into the body of Guo Yue. 10-5. Game point!
Jiawei’s ball doesn’t make it over the net. 9-5.
Is Guo Yue cracking up?
Guo Yue goes long. 9-4 to Jiawei.
Jiawei makes a mistake. 8-4.
A spinning smash by Guo Yue leaves Jiawei smiling ironically. 7-3.
A Jiawei smash is good. 7-2.
Jiawei goes long. 6-2.
A Guo Yue smash hits the net and bounces long. 5-1.
A Guo Yue return is into the net. 4-1.
What a smash by Guo Yue. Jiawei couldn’t handle the second smash. 3-1.
Guo Yue can’t handle Jiawei’s smash. Jiawei is up 3-0.
Jiawei wins the first and second point. 2-0.

4th game begins

A Guo Yue smash goes long! Jiawei wins 11-9 after being down 1-6. What a comeback in this game.
A Guo Yue mistake! Jiawei gets a game point. 10-9.
Jiawei’s return hits the top of the net and bounces agonisingly long. 9-9.
Another fadeaway smash by Guo Yue gets her back in. Jiawei leads 9-8.
Guo Yue hits an air ball – misses a Jiawei completely! 9-7.
Jiawei take the lead. 8-7.
A Jiawei backhand goes long. 7-7.
Guo Yue makes a mistake. She looks annoyed. 6-7.
Jiawei takes her time for the next point. Throws off Guo Yue.
Another Jiawei point. 6-6!
A ripping forehand by Jiawei makes it 5-6. Her fourth point in a row.
An exciting series of exchanges sees Guo Yue make a mistake. 4-6.
They have to mop up another reservoir on the table at Guo Yue’s end.
Another Guo Yue mistake. 3-6.
Guo Yue makes a mistake to give Jiawei a point. 2-6.
Another Jiawei mistake. 1-6.
The bronze medal is disappearing over the distance.
Guo Yue is too quick. Jiawei can’t get there in time. 1-5.
Another brilliant smash by Guo Yue that spins away from Jiawei’s paddle and the latter trails 1-3.
World champion Guo Yue smashes to win the first point. Jiawei trails 0-1.

Now can some tell us, why is Jiawei wearing PINK?

Jiawei trails 0-2.
Another Jiawei mistake gives Guo Yue the point and the game. 12-14.
A Jiawei mistake. Now she trails 12-13.
A fabulous backhand by Guo Yue sneaks past Jiawei’s backhand. 12-12.
Guo Yue defends Jiawei’s attacks but a return goes long. Jiawei gets a second game point. 12-11.
A series of Jiawei smashes ends in a shot that goes long. Jaiwei reacts in frustration. 11-11.
Advantage to Jiawei. 11-10.
A Guo Yue mistake gives Jiawei a point. 10-10.
Guo Yue smashes into Jiawei’s body and the latter can’t return it. 9-10.
Jiawei makes a mistake. She is showing frustration and disbelief. 9-9.
Can Jiawei close out the game?
Timeout called by Singapore.
Jiawei leads 9-8.
Guo Yue claws back another point. 8-7.
Jiawei misses an opportunity to win another point. 8-6.
A smash by Jiawei yields causes Guo Yue difficulties. Jiawei leads 8-5.
Best rally of the match! Guo Yue’s return is long. 7-5.
They take a break to wipe up the reservoir of sweat from Guo Yue.
Jiawei’s return catches the edge of the table. Wins a fortuitous point. She leads 6-5.
Jiawei’s return goes out. 5-5.
Jiawei lead 5-4 with a smash.
Jiawei returns a Guo Yue smash long. 4-3.
Guo Yue now makes a mistake. Jaiwei take a 4-2 lead.
Jiawei makes a mistake. 3-2.
Jiawei goes just too long with a chop. She leads 3-1.
Another strong Jiawei forehand forces an error out of Guo Yue. 3-0.
Guo Yue makes an error. Jiawei goes 2-0 up.
Jiawei goes aggressive and scores the first point. 1-0.

2nd game starts.

Jiawei misses a return completely! There goes the first set. 6-11.
Jiawei saves another game point. 6-10.
Jiawei’s backhand smash is good enough to save her one game point. 5-10.
The commentator is mangling Guo Yue’s name but Guo Yue is mangling Jiawei. Jiawei trails 4-10.
Guo Yue smashes an excellent shot past Jia Wei. Jia Wei trails 4-8.
Li Jia Wei is trailing 2-6.