Li Jiawei

Infobox Tabletennis player
playername = Li Jiawei

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imagesize =
caption = Li at the ITTP Pro Tour Liebherr Austrian Open in Wels, Austria, on 28 October 2007
fullname = Li Jiawei
nicknames =
nationality = flagcountry|Singapore
residence = Singapore
playingstyle = Right-handed shakehand gripcitation|author=Ian Marshall|title=First ITTF Pro Tour women's singles title|url=http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=7270&Competition_ID=1511&|publisher=International Table Tennis Federation|date=2005-06-19|accessdate=2008-08-15.] citation|title=LI Jia Wei|url=http://www.ittf.com/biography/biography_web_details.asp?Player_ID=105324&s_Assoc=&s_Gender=&s_Name=&s_Player_ID=&|publisher=International Table Tennis Federation|accessdate=2008-08-23.]
equipment = Stiga blade
hrank = 3rd (2005)citation|title=World ranking record for LI Jia Wei (SIN)|url=http://www.ittf.com|publisher=International Table Tennis Federation|date=August 2008|accessdate=2008-08-17.]
club =
birthdate = birth date and age|1981|8|9|df=yes
birthplace = Beijing, People's Republic of China
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = convert|1.73|m|ftin|abbr=oncitation|title=Athlete biography: LI Jia Wei|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/8/241548.shtml|publisher=Beijing 2008, Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad|year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-17.]
weight = convert|60|kg|lb|abbr=on (2008)
medaltemplates =| Li Jiawei (zh-cp|c=李佳薇|p=Lǐ Jiāwēi) (born 9 August 1981) is a China-born Singaporean table tennis player who is ranked among the top ten athletes in her sport. Spotted by Singapore talent scouts in Beijing in 1995, she moved to Singapore and commenced her international career in competitive table tennis in 1996. She became a Singapore citizen at the age of 18 years under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme.

As a singles player, Li was ranked sixth in the world as of August 2008. Her highest ranking was in December 2005, when she was third. Li is also a key player for women's team and doubles, and mixed doubles events. She finished in fourth place in singles at both the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. On 15 August, the Singapore women's team comprised of Li and her teammates Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu defeated South Korea 3–2 in the semifinals. However in the finals on 17 August, the team lost to China and obtained a silver medal, marking the first time that Singapore had won an Olympic medal since the nation's independence in 1965. The medal came 48 years after Tan Howe Liang won the country's first medal, a silver in weightlifting at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Early years

Li Jiawei, the only daughter of a government official and a housewife,citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Mismatch from the start? The hot pair seems to be cooling off, not least because of a language barrier, as well as cultural and personality differences|url=http://www.asiaone.com/Just%2BWoman/News/Celebrities/Story/A1Story20080116-45307.html|newspaper=The Straits Times (reproduced on AsiaOne)|date=2006-10-22.] was born on 9 August 1981 [citation|title=Biography: LI Jia Wei|url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Participants/Participants?ID=103522|publisher=Melbourne 2006, XVIII Commonwealth Games, Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation|date=March 2006|accessdate=2008-08-15.] in Beijing, People's Republic of China. In 1995 at the age of 14 years, when Li was a student at the Beijing Shichahai Sports School,citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Can Singapore do it? If Feng beats world No. 1 Zhang, like she did in March, China could crumble|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=2008-08-17|page=40.] her skill in table tennis was recognized by Singaporean talent scouts and she was invited to train in Singapore under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme, returning to China once a year to visit her parents. [citation|title=Singapore's hopes rest on reluctant Li|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/31/content_8873845.htm|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|date=2008-07-31|accessdate=2008-08-15.] She began representing Singapore internationally in competitive table tennis the following year. At 18, she became a Singapore citizen.citation|title=Li Jiawei|url=http://www.snoc.org.sg/p_li_jiawei.php|publisher=Singapore National Olympic Council|year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-15.]

Career as national player

Ranked 18th in the world in 2000, Li achieved gold medals in the women's team,citation|title=Results for table tennis – women's team event|url=http://www.thecgf.com/games/results.asp|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|accessdate=2008-08-15.] women's doublescitation|title=Results for table tennis – women's doubles|url=http://www.thecgf.com/games/results.asp|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|accessdate=2008-08-15.] and mixed doublescitation|title=Results for table tennis – mixed doubles|url=http://www.thecgf.com/games/results.asp|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|accessdate=2008-08-15.] events at the XVII Commonwealth Games held between 25 July and 4 August 2002 in Manchester, and was ranked eighth in November 2002. The following year, in December 2003, Li was a member of the Singapore team which swept the top awards at the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in the women's team,citation|title=Result list: Table tennis: Women's team|url=http://www.seagames22.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/data/news/2003/12/7518/Tt20109a.txt|publisher=SEA Games 22, 22nd SEA Games Organizing Committee|date=12 December 2003|accessdate=2008-08-15.] women's singles, women's doublescitation|title=Table tennis – Women's Doubles/Medal table|url=http://www.seagames22.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/data/news/2003/12/8320/BangHuyChuong_BongBan_DoiNu-anh.htm|publisher=SEA Games 22, 22nd SEA Games Organizing Committee|date=December 2003|accessdate=2008-08-15.] and mixed doubles.citation|title=Table tennis – Mixed Doubles/Medal table|url=http://www.seagames22.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/data/news/2003/12/8344/BangHuyChuong_BongBan_DoiNamNuPhoiHop-anh.htm|publisher=SEA Games 22, 22nd SEA Games Organizing Committee|date=December 2003|accessdate=2008-08-15.]

On 3 July 2004, Li took gold in the women's singles at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Pro Tour US Open in Chicago. Subsequently, at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, she defeated the second-seeded China player Wang Nan but eventually finished in fourth place. [citation|title=Table tennis|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050118035037/www.athens2004.com/en/resultsTable_Tennis/results?rsc=TT0000000|publisher=Athens 2004, Athens 2004 Organising Committee|date=August 2004|accessdate=2008-08-18.] In 2005, she was second in the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals, and gained silver medals for the women's singles and mixed doubles at the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held between 28 November and 4 December 2005 in Manila. She was also the key player in the gold-winning women's team and women's doubles events. In December 2005, she was ranked third in the world as a singles player. She won an individual Singapore Youth Award in 2005 and was "Her World" magazine's Young Woman Achiever of 2005.citation|title=Players' profiles: National team: Li Jiawei|url=http://www.stta.org.sg/profiles/jiawei.htm|publisher=Singapore Table Tennis Association|year=2007|accessdate=2008-08-16.]

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Li won gold for the women's team and women's doubles, and the silver medal for the women's singles and mixed doubles events. Subsequently, she won the women's singles at the ITTF Pro Tour Russia Open. She also achieved third place in the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals and the Women's World Cup, which are two of the most prestigious and difficult competitions in the table tennis arena. At the 15th Asian Games held from 29 November to 7 December 2006 in Doha, Qatar, she achieved three medals: a silver for the women's team event and two bronzes for the women's singles and mixed doubles. The next year, she won gold in the singles at the ITTF Pro Tour Chinese Taipei Open in Taipei,citation|author=Ian Marshall|title=Li Jia Wei returns to winning ways as she succeeds in Chinese Taipei|url=http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=13232&Competition_ID=1660&|publisher=International Table Tennis Federation|date=2006-08-26|accessdate=2008-08-15.] and helped Singapore to the top spots in the women's teamcitation|title=SEA Games: Singapore's table tennis athletes cool Thai spirits|url=http://asia.news.yahoo.com/071206/5/sports315789.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia (reproduced on Yahoo! News Asia)|date=2007-12-06; citation|title=SEA Games: Singapore's table tennis team makes history|url=http://asia.news.yahoo.com/071211/5/singapore316702.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia (reproduced on [Yahoo! News|Yahoo! News Asia)|date=2007-12-11.] and mixed doublescitation|author=Patwant Singh|title=SEA Games: Singapore paddlers win gold in all-Singapore mixed doubles final|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/specialreport/news/316253_52/1/.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=2007-12-08.] events at the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand.

As at August 2008, Li was ranked sixth in the world. She won the accolade of Sportswoman of the Year from the Singapore National Olympic Council five times in a row between 2002 and 2006, and received a Meritorious Award in 2007. [See also citation|title=Sportswoman of the year|url=http://www.snoc.org.sg/sportswoman_of_the_year.php|publisher=Singapore National Olympic Council|year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-16; citation|title=Meritorious award|url=http://www.snoc.org.sg/meritorious_award.php|publisher=Singapore National Olympic Council|year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-16.]

2008 Summer Olympics

Li represented Singapore for the third time in the Olympic Games at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She was the flag-bearer for Team Singapore at the opening ceremony of the Games on 8 August, having requested the honour. She explained: "There has been so much debate over the foreign talent scheme. This is my way of showing everyone that everything I've ever achieved is because of Singapore." [citation|author=Lin Xinyi|title=Jiawei asks, and gets, flag-bearer honour|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_256543.html|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2008-07-11. See also citation|author=Patwant Singh|title=Li Jiawei named flag-bearer for Singapore's Olympic contingent in Beijing|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/359552/1/.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=2008-07-10.]

At the Beijing Olympics, table tennis team events are played in a best-of-five-matches format. Teams play two single matches followed by a doubles match. If there is no winner after these matches, the teams play a fourth singles match, and if necessary a rubber match to determine the winning team. [citation|author=Lim Han Ming|title=One more step to a medal|newspaper=The New Paper|date=2008-08-15|page=64 at 65.] On 13 August, the Singapore women's table tennis team coached by Liu Guodong, comprising Li as the team captain and her teammates Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu, beat teams from the United States and Nigeria with comfortable 3–0 wins. [citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Doubles trouble: S'pore one step away from semis, but weak link looks to be Li–Wang|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sports)|date=2008-08-14; citation|author=Low Lin Fhoong|title=Off to a flying start: Singapore's women paddlers hammer US and Nigeria to open Olympic campaign|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270789.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-14.] On 14 August, the Singapore team also defeated the Netherlands 3–0 to reach the semifinals, but not before a gruelling five-game doubles match against the Dutch players Li Jie and Elena Timina which Li Jiawei and Wang Yuegu eventually won 3–2. [citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Moment of truth: Beat South Korea today, and Singapore are guaranteed the silver medal. Lose, and Singapore will go into a six-team play-off for the bronze|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=2008-08-15|page=B15. See also citation|author=Lim Han Ming|title='Chopping' threat: Beware the Dutch 'choppers'|url=http://tnp.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,173305,00.html|publisher=The Electric New Paper|date=2008-08-15; citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=One win from history: Wang Nan not thinking of Singapore, as Li and Co take on Koreans in the last four|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271030.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-15|page=52.] The next day, 15 August, the Singapore team defeated the South Korean team of Dang Ye-Seo, Kim Kyung-Ah and Park Mi-Young 3–2 in the semifinals, which went to five matches. Li lost her singles match to Korea's Kim, but beat Kim and Park in the doubles with her partner Wang. Singapore's Feng won both her singles matches against Dang and Park. [citation|title=Compelling: How the Koreans were overcome in five matches|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=2008-08-16|page=C34. See also citation|author=Rohit Brijnath|title=Aspire: Silver for S'pore will be more glittering if they make China earn gold|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=2008-08-16|page=C34; citation|author=Terrence Voon|title=United: S'poreans leave other activities to watch Jiawei and Co end table tennis' eight years of medal frustration|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=2008-08-16|page=C35; citation|author=Chua Chin Hon|title=Match-winner: Win over tenacious rival gives Feng 'best birthday present'|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=2008-08-16|page=C36; citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=A team win, with side shows|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271237.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-16|page=52; citation|author=Low Lin Fhoong|title=Oh how they lapped it up: A moment to savour: Fans turned up in numbers as Junction 8 to witness women paddlers' triumph|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271234.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-16|page=53.]

On 17 August, Li and her teammates gained Singapore a silver medal in women's table tennis after losing to China in three matches.citation|title=China women take gold|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/17/sports/olytableten17.php|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=2008-08-17.] Li won the first game of her singles match, but was then defeated by her former Beijing Sports School teammate Zhang Yining. In the doubles match, China's Zhang and Guo Yue bested Singapore's Li and Wang Yuegu. This marked the first time that Singapore had won an Olympic medal since the nation's independence in 1965. The medal came 48 years after Tan Howe Liang won the country's first medal, a silver in weightlifting in the lightweight category at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. [citation|title=Olympics: Singapore enter women's table-tennis team final|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sportsnews/view/368387/1/.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=2008-08-15|accessdate=2008-08-15; citation|author=Marc Lim|title=At last! S'pore assured of at least a silver after 48-year wait|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2008-08-16|page=1; citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=A new Olympic heroine: First medal since 1960|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271233.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-16|pages=1 & 3; citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=A silver spark? Feng, Li and Wang could just be what's needed to fire up sports talent and development in S'pore|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271499.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-18|pages=1–2. See also citation|author=Marc Lim|title=Silver, but they're our Golden Girls: Much to be proud of even though Singapore lost to juggernaut China|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2008-08-18|pages=A1 & A3; citation|author=Rohit Brijnath|title=Commentary: All that glitters need not be gold|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2008-08-18|page=A5; citation|author=Low Lin Fhoong|title=At the heart of the matter: Residents gather at "kopitiams" as paddlers chase Olympic dream|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271496.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-18|page=29; citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=When being content is not good: Table tennis women deserved to be feted, but their attitude in the final was puzzling|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/272519.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-23|page=58.] Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong requested that the live English language broadcast of his National Day Rally speech, which coincided with the table tennis finals, be postponed by a day. He also provided the audience with updates on the score, and made a conference call to Tan Eng Liang, Team Singapore's "chef de mission", to congratulate the team. [citation|author=Loh Chee Kong|title='You have not disappointed us'|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271492.asp|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/271499.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-18|page=2.]

Li and her teammates received byes into the third round of the singles tournament. [citation|author=Low Lin Fhoong|title=Yuegu crashes out: Jiawei and Tianwei cruise into last 16 despite team-mate's shock loss|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/272095.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-21|page=55.] Asked if she stood a chance of winning any more medals, she said: "I will try my best in every match. I definitely hope to win one more medal for Singapore." [citation|author=Chua Chin Hon|title=Medal dreams come true: Mission complete? Li hopes to win medal in singles|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2008-08-18|page=A4.] She beat Croatia's Tamara Boroš in the third round, Hong Kong's Lin Ling in the fourth round, and the USA's Wang Chen in the quarter-finals. [citation|author=Chua Chin Hon|title=Jiawei storms into last four: Singaporean overcomes two opponents to set up contest with world No. 1|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=2008-08-22|page=B22; citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=A job for a woman of steel: Li's back at the grand ball again, but she faces a huge task to win another medal|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/272337.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-22|page=46.] However, on 22 August she was defeated in the semifinals 4–1 by Zhang Yining of China, ranked number one in the world, and lost the bronze medal 4–2 to China's Guo Yue. Thus placed fourth in the singles tournament, she equalled her performance in the 2004 Athens Olympics but again failed in her quest for an individual Olympic medal. After the bronze medal match, a tearful Li told reporters this would be her final Olympics. [citation|author=Chua Chin Hon|title=Deja vu: Li in tears after having to settle for fourth once again at Olympics|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=2008-08-23|pages=C38 & C37; citation|author=Leonard Thomas|title=Li's Olympic flame burns out: She misses a medal in the women's singles yet again, and says 2012 may be too far away|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/272542.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-23|page=62.] At a victory celebration in Singapore on 25 August, Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, announced that Li, Feng and Wang would be presented with the "Pingat Jasa Gemilang" (Meritorious Service Medal). This is only the third time the medal will be awarded to athletes, the two previous recipients being weightlifter Tan Howe Liang (1962) and swimmer Joscelin Yeo (2006). [citation|author=Jeanette Wang|author2=Lin Xinyi|author3=Valerie Chia|title=Cheers and national honours for winning trio|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2008-08-26|page=A6; citation|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=A party 48 years in the making: Team Singapore return to a grand heroes' welcome|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/272924.asp|newspaper=Today|date=2008-08-26|page=31.]

Li has expressed interest in pursuing further studies in a Beijing university. In October 2008 the Singapore Table Tennis Association said the Association and the Singapore Sports Council were prepared to offer her a scholarship to do so. Nevertheless, Li said that she wished to continue her career and to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics.citation|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=Jiawei's not calling it a day just yet, say Lee and Teo|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/279791.asp|newspaper=Today|date=6 October 2008|page=31.]

Medals

Personal life

Li first met Singaporean badminton player and fellow Olympian Ronald Susilo in 2002 at a sports meet. They began dating after participating together in the Athens Olympics, and the "golden sports couple",citation|title=Golden couple Susilo and Li Jiawei break up|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20080116-45299.html|publisher=AsiaOne|date=2008-01-16|accessdate=2008-08-18.] as they were dubbed by the media, announced their engagement in September 2004. About two years later there were rumours that they were breaking up, but these were denied by them at the time. On 15 January 2008, when queried by a journalist, Susilo confirmed that he and Li had broken up amicably the previous week. Following a report in "The Sunday Times" that Susilo was contemplating legal action against her to recover money he claimed to have spent in buying their condominium apartment and car, Li disagreed that Susilo had a share in the apartment and implied he was trying to affect her mood and thus her chances of winning a medal at the Beijing Olympics. Susilo declined to discuss the matter with the press, saying it was a private matter between Li and himself; he wished her all the best for the Olympics. [citation|author=Terrence Voon|title=Li Jiawei speaks out against ex-fiance|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Story/A1Story20080409-58989.html|newspaper=The Straits Times (reproduced on AsiaOne)|date=2008-04-09. See also citation|title=Q&A with Li Jiawei|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Story/A1Story20080410-59095.html|newspaper=Lianhe Wanbao (reproduced on AsiaOne)|date=2008-04-08.] In October 2008 it was announced that Li and Susilo had settled their property dispute amicably. The terms of the settlement were confidential. [citation|author=Leonard Lim|title=Settled out of court: Former sweethearts Susilo and Li end wrangle over house and car amicably|newspaper=The Straits Times (Sport)|date=4 October 2008|page=C38; citation|author=Tan Yo-Hinn|title=It's love all as Susilo v Li spat resolved|url=http://www.todayonline.com/articles/279533.asp|newspaper=Weekend Today|date=4 October 2008|page=52 (archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5bJdWEHPg).]

On 26 September 2008, Li registered a marriage in Beijing with a businessman based in that city. They were introduced by a mutual friend in March 2008. Li told the media she did not consider herself married but only engaged, as no wedding banquet had been held yet. The full name of Li's fiancé has not been disclosed, but he has the same surname as Li which appears ideal for her as sources quoted by "The Straits Times" said Li had long wanted her children to bear her surname. [citation|title=Li and Li – Jiawei engaged: Table tennis star falls for Beijing businessman with the same surname|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Sport)|date=5 October 2008|page=38.]

ee also

*Singapore at the 2008 Summer Olympics
*Table tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Notes

References

*citation|title=Athlete biography: LI Jia Wei|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/8/241548.shtml|publisher=Beijing 2008, Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad|year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-17.
*citation|title=Li Jiawei|url=http://www.snoc.org.sg/p_li_jiawei.php|publisher=Singapore National Olympic Council|year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-15.
*citation|title=World ranking record for LI Jia Wei (SIN)|url=http://www.ittf.com|publisher=International Table Tennis Federation|date=August 2008|accessdate=2008-08-17.

External links

* [http://www.snoc.org.sg Official website of the Singapore National Olympic Council]
* [http://www.stta.org.sg Official website of the Singapore Table Tennis Association]
* [http://www.teamsingapore.com.sg Official website of Team Singapore, managed by the Singapore Sports Council]
* [http://www.teamsingapore.com.sg/publish/teamsingapore/en/games/Olympics/Beijing2008/beijing_2008/our_athletes.detail.html?athleteID=1634 Li Jiawei at the Team Singapore website]
* [http://www.pacificcentennial.com/ljw/luvjiawei/ Li Jia Wei Discussion Board] – a fansite

Persondata
NAME = Li, Jiawei
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Li, Jia Wei
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Singaporean table tennis player
DATE OF BIRTH = 9 August 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH = Beijing, People's Republic of China
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =