COINCIDENCE or not, Singapore's Olympic medals have a China stamp.

The women's table tennis team that assured Singapore of a silver or gold medal were all born in China.

But before critics go on a rampage about the Foreign Talent Scheme that brought them to our shores, let me say this: Our first Olympic medallist, weightlifter Tan Howe Liang, was also born in China (Swatow).

Those were the days of migration, when the Chinese and Indians came in hordes to Singapore.

As a child, Tan moved south via the South China Sea with his family and set up home in Chinatown.

Now, we see a migration of another kind, where countries lure sportsmen with carrots and citizenship to boost their sporting prowess.

So this is not a new phenomenon. As the world gets more integrated, many people are crossing borders and staying put eventually.

For small nations like Singapore, where land is scarce and natural resources are zilch, there is a dire need for people with talent and brains.

As in economics, engineering, science and, even arts, the talent pool in sports should also be nurtured, especially when nature does not provide enough of it.

There was a huge debate when China-born table tennis player Jing Junhong, who married a Singaporean, donned the Republic's colours and almost won an Olympic medal in 2000 in Sydney.

So was it with Li Jiawei in 2004 in Athens.

But when you scan the litany of similar moves by other countries, namely Malaysia (distance runner Yuan Yufan from China), Australia (shuttlers Sze Yu and Yang Song from China), Taiwan (badminton player Fung Permade from Indonesia), Holland (shuttler Mia Audina from Indonesia), and Sweden (badminton player Lim Xiaoqing from China), we feel appeased.

I have seen coloured athletes representing European countries, namely middle-distance athlete Wilson Kipketer, who ran for Denmark and long jumper Fiona May, who donned Italian colours.

Still not convinced? Watch the table tennis competition at Beijing 2008 and you will see how well spread are the Chinese paddlers.

S'pore's medallists: Who they are

TAN HOWE LIANG

Age: 75 (born in Swatow)

Height: 1.6m

Weight: 65kg

Third of eight siblings. Emigrated to Singapore at 4, in 1937 and settled in Chinatown.

Weightlifting career began when he was 19, when he walked past Gay World Amusement Park, watched an event and became intrigued by the sport.

LI JIAWEI

Age: 27 (born in Beijing)

Height: 1.7m

Weight: 60kg

Came to Singapore 13years ago.

World ranking: 5

WANG YUEGU

Age: 28 (born in Henan)

Height: 1.55m

Weight: 63kg

Came to Singapore in 2005.

World ranking: 8

FENG TIANWEI

Age: 21 (born in Heilongjiang)

Height: 1.64m

Weight: 58kg

Came to Singapore last year.

World ranking: 7