They were ready-made in China. But Tie Yana and Cheung Yuk played their hearts out for adopted home Hong Kong yesterday and created history by winning the SAR its first Asian Games gold medal in table tennis. The mixed doubles pair clawed their way back from the very edge, first trailing by three games and then saving two gold medal points, to defeat hosts South Korea 4-3 in a thrilling final.
Earlier they had dispatched the world's top pairing and outright favourites, Wang Nan and Wang Liqin of China by an identical margin in a gripping semi-final that silenced a large band of mainland fans at the Ulsan gymnasium. But the crowd got behind Hong Kong later and at the end they were shouting 'China, China' during a remarkable fightback that left opponents Ryu Seung-min and Ryu Ji-hae in a daze.
For Tie, it was her second coming. Just a week ago she was banned from the Games after her eligibility was questioned. Ordered to return home, Tie was given a last-minute reprieve after the Hong Kong Olympic Committee appealed on the grounds she had never represented China at the highest level.
The Olympic Council of Asia, having made its point that members had to stick to the three-year eligibility rule, relented and allowed Tie to stay despite her having arrived in the SAR only seven months ago. What a blessing that decision turned out to be.
'It was tough today. This is my first time representing Hong Kong at a big event like this and there was big pressure on me,' said Tie. She refused to comment on her last-minute reprieve. 'Ask the coach,' she said.
Hong Kong Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok Tsun-ting said it was time to forget the past. 'That is all behind us now. That was a little hitch. To put all those problems behind and come out and play like this shows a lot of character,' said Fok.
The 23-year-old Tie and the left-handed Cheung - a former Guangdong provincial player - combined inspirationally to carve out a landmark win for Hong Kong. First they saw off Pakistan, 3-0, in the first round. Then they saw off Japan, also 3-0. Both those early matches were best-of-five games. The semi-finals and final were in a best-of-seven games format. First up were China featuring reigning Olympic and World champion Wang Nan and Wang Linqin, who is also the current Olympic champion in the men's doubles.
