CAN a silver medal be just as valuable as the 302 Olympic gold medals at these Games?

Yes, if it is a tiny nation's first medal after 48 years.

Last night, Singapore's women's table tennis team predictably lost 0-3 to mighty China in the final after a valiant battle.

Li Jiawei also troubled world No. 1 Zhang Yining in their first set, but could not handle her relentless offence, and lost 9-11, 3-11, 4-11, 7-11.

Finally, China's doubles pair of Zhang and Guo Yue were too powerful against Singapore's Li and Wang Yuegu, winning in straight sets 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

Still, they've earned the Republic's first silver since weightlifter Tan Howe Liang did the same at the 1960 Rome Games.

To most Singaporeans, the loss does not matter. Nor does the colour of the medal.

What matters is that Singapore sports have made an Olympian breakthrough, after knocking at the medal's door since the 2000 Sydney Games.

During last Friday's semifinal duel against South Korea, there were times when we too felt discouraged, as the combative Koreans put our three paddlers under immense pressure.

This time, we've passed the test. That is why, for Singapore, this team silver means gold.

It means gold because, to our three paddlers, it is a sweet vindication of their tough decision to leave China and take up Singaporean citizenship.

Let's not forget their sacrifices - leaving their families, training full-time and competing tirelessly all over the world.

Li, in particular, must be lauded. She stumbled in the 2000 Games, but came back. In 2004, she ended up in tears, but she stayed on and played on.

In Friday's semi-final, she made us groan at her impatience during her singles tie. We hollered in delight at her determination to land that all-important doubles win.

When the silver was assured, her tears were testament to her sheer dedication to fulfilling Singapore's dream.

This silver means gold, because it lays to rest the parochial, unfair and poisonous cynicism that surrounds our Foreign Talent Scheme.

You know, the notion that Singaporeans will feel less proud of these foreign-born athletes than those born and bred on the island.

So what do these black-hearted spoilsports have to say about the thunderous roar that shook Bishan Junction 8 the moment the semi-final was won?

What do they have to say about the outpouring of gratitude to these three paddlers for ending this medal drought?

What do they have to say about this letter by Mr Tan Kim Soon, stating that, while he had doubts about foreign-born players, he felt a lump in his throat when they won?

No, they have nothing of worth to say, because Singaporeans have already given them a firm rebuttal with their overwhelming acceptance of these three China-born athletes.

This silver means gold, because local athletes finally have something tangible to emulate.

Tan's weightlifting silver was from a past era, and much has changed in the world of sports.

But this new silver has set the bar for all local sportsmen.

They know now what it takes to win at the highest level.

Yes, it is a tough, intense and unrelenting slog to the top.

But this silver provides the inspiration to convince our athletes that, if they keep up their dedication to their respective sports, the reward will come.

That is why this silver is as good as gold.

For more my paper stories click here.